ENG101: Explication of Elizabeth Bishop's 'The Fish' - Analysis Essay

This essay provides an in-depth explication of Elizabeth Bishop's poem, "The Fish." The analysis delves into the poem's structure, imagery, and themes. The essay explores the speaker's observations of the captured fish, examining the use of descriptive language to portray the fish's physical appearance and the speaker's emotional response. It discusses the use of diction, such as the descriptions of the fish's skin and eyes, to create vivid imagery and convey the speaker's changing perspective. The essay highlights the poem's exploration of themes such as the relationship between humans and nature, the beauty found in unexpected places, and the speaker's shift from initial detachment to a sense of respect and empathy for the fish. The essay concludes by discussing how Bishop's use of poetic techniques contributes to the overall meaning of the poem and its environmental consciousness.

Running head: EXPLICATE THE POEM “THE FISH”
EXPLICATE THE POEM “THE FISH”
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1EXPLICATE THE POEM “THE FISH”
Introduction:-
In 1946 Elizabeth Bishop the famous American story writer written this poem The
Fish .This poem is based on a Mark Doty’s essay “A Tremendous Fish.” In this poem the poet’s
use of positive descriptions images in the last few lines (Tóibín). The descriptive poem style and
procedure of punctuation permits the reader to carriage into the lifecycle of the fish.
Explication:-
At first the poet describes this fish as a respective creatures. Bishops try to illustrate
between the fish and the human beings. The brown skin big fish caught by the fisher but
surprisingly this fish is do not fight it. Characteristically respective fish is very much horrible and
ugly as well. But Elizabeth try to compare their skin as an old ancient wall paper. Bishop creates
some relationship between the fisher and fish. That is the main reason she writes “my” hook in
“his” mouth. The reader’s first overview to the actual physicality of the doing of fishing. Fight at
all (Bishop). For this illustration the poet try to define about adjustment. The line 6 truly
highlights line 5. Speaker has assumed reader a type of a varied carrier of descriptions and
sensation about the fish. At first he is marvellous and appreciated, but he is kind of horrible and
overweight. Save in concentration in what way Bishop Use apparently attractive language to
designate sort of horrible things "fine rosettes of lime" looks gentle and attractive(Ellis). But
once reader step back and understand what Bishop is actually telling, it looks a little sticky. It is a
big change for her reader. Bishop did such a decent job telling how threatening the fish is. The
reader does not understand pending now how susceptible he is.
According to this poem the reader understand how terrible the condition is for the
fish .When the narrator is holding him out of the water then fish can't breathe out of water. So the

2EXPLICATE THE POEM “THE FISH”
reader become an intelligence that time is vital and the fish life is truly in the bishop's hands. In
the whole poem Elizabeth creates some comparison and sometimes this comparison establishes a
beautiful metaphor which is the central idea of this poem (Bishop). Again, reader see the
energetic color in contradiction of the corroded old engine. This difference is sort of expectable
at this point, but still actual. The experience fisher Elizabeth bishop was very much surprise
when they observe this fish cannot live anymore but still this fish still calm and cool. This
uncommon behavior is very much appreciable then speaker remove this fish from his hand. What
reader can express is that the fight between the narrator and the fish appears to end with the
rainbow, then calm down with the release of the fish in the water.
Conclusion:-
Elizabeth is paradoxically expressive the reader that the bible’s model about the human
advantage cannot be acceptable by subsequent its instructions to control the acquitted creatures.
Reader can be greater only by human behaviours by being well than them in terms of
understanding and love. The Fish shows her environmental consciousness that indications her to
receive an association of existence between human and nonhuman. This environmental
consciousness in the rhyme is reproduced when Elizabeth greeneries the fish free. It is one of her
characteristic and illustrative poems.

3EXPLICATE THE POEM “THE FISH”
References:-
Bishop, Elizabeth. "At the fishhouses." Ecotone 9.2 (2014): 38-40.
Bishop, Elizabeth. One art. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2015.
Ellis, Jonathan. Art and Memory in the Work of Elizabeth Bishop. Routledge, 2018.
Tóibín, Colm. On Elizabeth Bishop. Vol. 7. Princeton University Press, 2015.