Poetry: The Fish

Question 0

What is The Fish about?

Answer 0

Persona is fishing and eats the fish after catching it

Question 1

When was The Fish published and in what poetry collection

Answer 1

1983 in American Primitive

Question 2

What is the message of ‘The Fish’?

Answer 2

Really simple acts, when reflected upon can become something more
- Mundane becomes spiritual

Question 3

The Fish theme: interconnection

• explain
• use quote/ example

Answer 3

Interconnection between humanity and nature
- ‘now the sea is in me: I am the fish, the fish glitters in me’
All come from the same source (earth/water)
- tangled together certain to fall back to the sea.”

Question 4

The Fish theme: human vs animal worth

• explain
• use quote/ example

Answer 4

Animals and humans are equal

• use if personification to rise fish to human value
• “flesh” = human term

Question 5

The Fish theme: Christianity/Jesus symbolism

• explain
• use quote/ example

Answer 5

crucifixion: Jesus suffered for all of us
- fish is suffering for our nourishment
- ‘flailed and sucked at the burning air”

Eucharist: become one with God through sacrifice

• become one with nature through Fish’s sacrifice
• “we were nourished by the mystery”

Resurrection: unity resulting from sacrifice
- ‘we are risen’