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Elizabeth Bishop Figurative Language

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"The Fish" by Elizabeth Bishop is filled with multiple examples of figurative language. Figurative language gives the poem more clarity and allows the reader to have a better understanding of the ideas of the author. Throughout the poem, there are examples of figurative language such as, personification, hyperbole, and alliteration. However, examples of similes, metaphors, and imagery most clearly portrays the ideas of Elizabeth Bishop by comparing ideas that are related to the fish's physical state, and to reflect on how the fish is a survivor. She also uses the language to give the reader a better understanding of what the fish represents to her. Similes throughout the poem are directed towards the fish and are used to explain the physical …show more content…

When imagery is used in pieces of literature, it paints a picture for the reader and allows authors to express the details they want the reader to experience. Elizabeth Bishop also does this in "The Fish". There are many examples of imagery used in this poem. Stone uses this imagery to describe how the fish looks and uses objects to help relate and give the reader a better understanding. Elizabeth Stone relates the fish to being in a struggle, by stating "He was speckled with barnacles, fine rosettes of lime, and infested with sea lice" (16-19). Stone describes how the fish is in such a bad physical state, because the fish has barnacles growing on him. Stone also states, "The dramatic reds and blacks of his shiny entrails" (30-31). This piece of imagery Stone uses, represents the cuts on the fish, showing the organs inside and stating how vibrant the colors are. Stone also explains what the boat looks like when Stone catches the fish. She says, "Victory filled the boat, from the pool of bilge where oil had spread a rainbow around the rusted engine" (68-70). Stone explains her excitement by representing her emotions with the vibrant colors she uses in her explanations. She says the boat is filled with oil which spread into a rainbow, creating evidence to the readers of her amazing experience of catching the fish. "The Fish" is full of imagery, representing the fish and Elizabeth Stone's

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