The Prodigal Notes

Question 1

Explain the quotes ‘the brown enormous odour’,

‘was too close’ and ‘with its breathing and thick hair, for him to judge’

Answer 1

These opening quotes present the revolting living conditions of the exiled prodigal who has been ostracised due to his alcoholism.

‘was too close’ and ‘for him to judge’ prove that the prodigal knows nothing other than this world. He is in an animal-like state and has lost all sense of judgement.
The odour ‘with its breathing thick hair’, is beyond his nottice.

Question 2

quotes for the description of the horrid smell

Answer 2

the brown enormous odour

was too close, with its breathing and thick hair, for him to judge

Question 3

Quote an example of Bishop’s painterly eye involving the pigs

Answer 3

light-lashed, self-righteous, above moving snouts, the pigs eyes followed him, a cheerful stare-

Question 4

What is the story of the prodigal son?

Answer 4

It is the biblical story of a son who squandered his inheritance and lived off the food of the pigs he tended, but finally returning home to be welcomed with open arms and hearts.

Question 5

quote the lines when he’s sunk so low even the pigs are judging him

Answer 5

self-righteous

the pigs’ eyes followed him

Question 6

The prodigal is secretive about his alcoholism

Answer 6

(he hid the pints behind a two-by-four)

Question 7

How does Bishop draw on the prodigal son parable?

Answer 7

Bishop draws on this parable, she suffered from depression, alcoholism and often felt like an outsider in society.

Question 8

Why did Bishop use a double sonnet format?

Answer 8

She uses a double sonnet form to trace the prodigal’s struggle from wretchedness to eventual recovery

Question 9

Quote the lines where the prodigal is filled with hope and believes he can endure his exile for longer

Answer 9

he almost might endure his exile yet another year or more

Question 10

Explain the quote ‘But evenings the first star came to warn’

Answer 10

‘But’ indicates a change in direction while ‘the first star’ is a biblical reference to the nativity where it was a symbol of destiny and ‘came to warn’ implies that the prodigal is on the wrong path.
There is a suggestion that the Prodigal is now confronting his inner demons.

Question 11

What does the first sonnet present us with?

Answer 11

It presents us with disturbing images of humanity debased by alcoholism

Question 12

Explain the quote ‘even to the sow that always ate her young’

Answer 12

This contrasts the father-son relationship in the parable.

Question 13

Quote the change in direction in the first sonnet

Answer 13

‘But sometimes mornings after drinking bouts’

Question 14

Quote the mornings after drinking bouts, what the prodigal sees and what fills him with hope

Answer 14

the sunrise glazed the barnyard mud with red;

the burning puddles seemed to reassure.

Question 15

the bats represent his uncertainty

Answer 15

bats’ uncertain staggering flight

Question 16

Explain the quotes:
the sunrise glazed the barnyard mud with red;
the burning puddles seemed to reassure.

Answer 16

His morning hangovers are compensated with the unexpected beauty in nature. ‘the sunrise glazed the barnyard mud with red’; nature is full of beauty that the sunlight highlights in the early mornings.

the burning puddles seemed to reassure.’ This is enough to give him hope and reassures him.
Nature bestows an optimism and helps him to cope with his exile.

Question 17

Quote: He decides to go home, hopeful as he’ll hopefully be cared for at home

Answer 17

But it took him a long time

finally to make his mind up to go home

Question 18

themes

Answer 18

the strength of the human spirit

The poem speaks on themes of hope, alcoholism, addiction, and salvation.

Question 19

How is this poem relevant to Elizabeth Bishop?

Answer 19

The prodigal is a surrogate character for Elizabeth Bishop as she was permanently exiled (against her will) from a permanent home as a child. This came to be as her father passed away when she was a mere 8 months old and her mother was committed to a psychiatric hospital when she was 5, leaving her, ultimately alone.

She sought comfort for her problem with alcohol.

Question 20

How is this poem relevant to all people?

Answer 20

Bishop’s reworking of the biblical tale carries a universal message of hope.

This poem offers the prospect of recovery from any form of human debasement.

Question 21

Explain the quote ‘safe and companionable as in the Ark’ in terms of the prodigal

Answer 21

This is another biblical reference the Noah’s Ark.

The prodigal feels out of place here. He is intensely aware of his dismal alienation

Question 22

Quote the line describing the Prodigal’s inner thoughts

Answer 22

‘he felt the bat’s uncertain staggering flight,

his shuddering insights, beyond his control’

Question 23

‘the bat’s uncertain staggering flight,
his shuddering insights, beyond his control’, depicts an idea of the Prodigal’s inner thoughts at this moment, explain this further

Answer 23

The uncertainty of the bats’ flight describes the uncertainty of his constant inner battles, to go home.