Lecture Notes: Elizabeth Bishop's 'The Fish'

Introduction

• The lecture discusses Elizabeth Bishop's poem "The Fish," popular in both ordinary and higher-level Leaving Cert syllabuses.
• "The Fish" was included in Bishop's first poetry collection, "North and South" (1946).
• Bishop did not think highly of this poem and referred to it as a "trifle" in a letter to Marianne Moore.
• Despite her own opinion, it has become one of her most popular poems.

Style and Structure

• Exemplifies Bishop's conversational style.
• Written in free verse (no set rhyming pattern or consistent meter).
• Some use of tri-meter, giving it a patterned sound.

The Poem: A Line by Line Analysis

Opening Lines

• Begins with the statement "I caught a tremendous fish" and ends with "I let it go."
• The speaker shows pride in catching the fish ("tremendous").
• Each word and line is purposefully chosen, reflecting Bishop's perfectionism.

Description of the Fish

• Detailed description of the fish creates a sense of epiphany and interconnectedness with nature.
• Fish is described as "battered and venerable."
• Skin compared to "ancient wallpaper," emphasizing age and battle scars.

Speaker's Observation and Realization

• The fish doesn't fight, suggesting resignation or wisdom.
• Described in a way that evokes sympathy (e.g., "barnacles," "sea lice," "rags of green weed").

Inner Monologue

• Speaker's thoughts on the fish's anatomy and its "coarse white flesh."
• Uses domestic imagery to make the fish relatable.
• Simile of swim bladder to a "peony" (symbol of bravery and honor).

Emotional Shift

• Eye contact moment between speaker and fish enhances connection.
• Details of fishing lines symbolize past battles and survivals.
• Fish's "five-haired beard of wisdom" symbolizes experience and respect.

Conclusion

• Speaker lets the fish go, feeling a new sense of camaraderie and respect.
• The boat scene transforms from ordinary to extraordinary, symbolized by "rainbow."
• Repetition of "rainbow" highlights the speaker's epiphany.

Themes and Analysis

• Bishop's commitment to precise detail and exactness is evident.
• Gradual distancing of the speaker from the subject.
• Shift in perspective: from hunter to appreciating nature's beauty and resilience.

Closing Remarks

• Encourages viewers to watch the introduction to Bishop video for more context.
• Emphasizes the importance of precise detail and perspective shifts in Bishop's work.
• Invites viewers to engage with content on the channel (subscribe, like, comment).