Elizabeth Bishop Flashcards
The fish:
Notices five hooks
“Grim, wet and weapon like
Hung five old pieces of fish line,”
The fish:
Simile about the fish hooks
“Like medals with their ribbons
Frayed and wavering,”
The fish:
Reference to fish’s skin
“His brown skin hung in strips
Like ancient wallpaper,”
The fish:
Last line
“everything was rainbow, rainbow, rainbow!
And I let the fish go,”
The Prodigal:
Hostile pig example
“The sow that always ate her young,”
The Prodigal:
Alliteration and description of pig’s activity
“Light lashed, self rite out, above moving snouts,”
The Prodigal:
Last line
“But it took him a long time
finally to make his mind up to go home,”
The Armadillo:
Reference to fire balloons in the air
“With a wind, they flare and falter,”
The Armadillo:
Sim lie for fire balloon
“Like an egg of fire,”
The Armadillo:
Reference to armadillo and calls the event a crime
“A glistening armadillo left the scene”
The Armadillo:
Simile for fire balloon’s light
“The paper chambers flush and fill with light
That comes and goes, like hearts,”
The Filling Station:
Repetition of oil
“Oil-soaked, oil-permeated”
The Filling Station:
Homely imagery
“A dirty dog, quite comfy,”
The Filling Station:
Questioning the mother’s touches
“Why, oh why, the doily?”
The Filling Station:
Last line, motherly presence
“Somebody loves us all,”
