Descriptive language also permeates the
speaker’s epiphany at the end of the poem, encom-
passing the boat on which she fishes. The corroded
bucket, the prismatic colors in the oil-slicked pud-
dle, the split seat cushions, the corroded motor—
all are described with a wealth of adjectives.
Free Verse
‘‘The Fish’’ is written in free verse, which means
that it has no set metric structure or rhyme scheme.
In fact, the poem resembles prose in its language
and rhythm. Were it not for the descriptive devices
employed throughout, ‘‘The Fish’’ would hardly
appear to be a poem. Furthermore, ‘‘The Fish’’ is
not divided into stanzas; it is written in continuous
lines from start to finish. Although the poem is
largely without form, it does slightly mimic the
schematics of a sonnet. For instance, some tradi-
tional sonnets first present a situation, then pose a
problem based on the situation, and next present a
solution to that problem in the final couplet (pair
of rhymed lines). All three criteria take place in the
correct order in ‘‘The Fish.’’ The speaker presents
the situation in which a fish is caught, and then the
unspoken problem of whether or not to release the
fish is considered (largely through the speaker’s
observation of her catch). In the final couplet, the
speaker decides to grant the fish its freedom. Nota-
bly, the poem’s final couplet is the only place in the
poem in which rhyme is employed. This rhyme
emphasizes the poem’s roots in the sonnet, as well
as the importance and finality of the conclusion.Historical Context
Modernism
Modernism is an artistic movement that began
in the early twentieth century and was at its most
popular during the 1920s and 1930s. Yet mod-
ernism remained a prominent movement well
into the middle of the century. Modernism was
not limited to literature, and the style prevailed
in the visual arts of the period as well. The move-
ment first began in Europe, later growing in
popularity in the United States. Several cultural
upheavals taking place around the turn of the
twentieth century sparked the beginning of mod-
ernism. Up until this time, the belief that man-
kind is more important than the individual was
largely accepted. The heavy casualties of World
War I contributed to an immense paradigm shift
in social thought, as poets and artists challenged
the importance of politics and patriotism and
exalted the idea of individual experience. Yet
another factor that added to modernist thought
was the question of how to remain human in a
society built increasingly on technology. Other
contributing factors included groundbreakingCOMPARE
&
CONTRAST 1940s:The predominant style of poetry is mod-
ernism, a style characterized by loose forms
and traditionally unpoetic topics, such as iso-
lation, technology, and despair.
Today:Free verse remains a highly popular
poetic form. However, an increasingly prev-
alent style of poetry is new formalism, a style
characterized by a return to traditional met-
ric forms and structures.
1940s:America joins World War II follow-
ing the December 7, 1941, attacks on Pearl
Harbor.Today:Following the terrorist attacks of Sep-
tember 11, 2001, the United States invades Iraq
on March 19, 2003, beginning the Iraq War.
1940s:Most women in the United States
marry, have children, and become home-
makers. While millions of women temporarily
enter the workforce during World War II, few
enjoy Bishop’s lifestyle of unfettered travel.
Today:Career paths and opportunities for
women abound. Women typically marry later
in life, have fewer children, and are more likely
to maintain careers or travel often.The Fish