The Fish Essay Questions

Discuss the simile comparing the fish to wallpaper.

Early in "The Fish," the poem's speaker observes that the scales of the fish she has caught look similar to wallpaper—specifically an old, stained, and peeling wallpaper of faded roses. This level of detail reveals that the speaker is visually observant. Meanwhile, the use of a comparison that evokes domestic comfort creates an unexpected juxtaposition. Though the fish is wild, the speaker links it to something deeply familiar and safe. This can be read as the first glimpse at the speaker's growing empathy for the fish, but it can also be understood as a sign of her anxiety: the strangeness of the animal prompts her to seek a comfortably familiar comparison.

Analyze the poem's last line in terms of syntax, diction, and tone.

The final line of "The Fish" stands out from those that precede it. It consists of one-syllable words. Syntactically, it is self-contained—a single sentence, in contrast to the long, multi-line sentences that make up the rest of the work. This simplicity is a fitting reflection of the line's tonal decisiveness, as the speaker makes the choice to let the fish go. Much of the poem, particularly its middle section, consists of roving, unrushed observation. Bishop signals that this reverie is over, or that it has produced a moment of resolute action, through these shifts in the work's final lines.