A poem without any complications can force an author to say more with much less. Although this may sound quite cliché, it rings true when examining “The Fish” by Elizabeth Bishop. Elizabeth's Bishop's poem addresses an extremely simple subject: the act of catching a fish. However, his ability to use thematic elements such as figurative language, imagery, and tone allows “The Fish” to speak to something larger. These three elements intertwine to create a work of art that goes beyond its simple subject. The first element to analyze when watching “The Fish” is the figurative language. The reader is drawn to this element because of the strong emphasis it places throughout the poem. Elizabeth Bishop uses similes extensively in an attempt to heighten the feeling of peach. She writes: [...] Here and there her brown skin hung in strips like old wallpaper, and her darker brown pattern was like wallpaper: shapes like blooming roses (9-14) In six lines of poetry, the author is able to make three similes all comparing the outward appearance of a fish to wallpaper. As anyone who has owned a trout or salmon can attest, the natural colors of these animals are not necessarily the most vibrant. A really good word to describe the browns of a fish is “dull,” which makes wallpaper a great comparison for several reasons. First, the simile creates an accurate picture for readers' imagination of what the fish actually caught in the poem looks like. Second, and perhaps most importantly, the use of the word “wallpaper” helps create a connection for the reader between boredom and objects in the domestic sphere. Throughout her poem, Elizabeth Bishop champions the beauty of nature through her...... middle of paper ......m the "beaten, venerable, and simple" fish is now a decorated war hero who fought many battles. The speaker has always had respect for the fish but in the end her admiration is so great that she feels obliged to honor it. The final statement is: “And I let the fish go” (76). This is the culmination of all the previous dialogue and shows the speaker's utmost respect for the fish and how inhumane it would be for her to kill it. “The Fish” by Elizabeth Bishop is an excellent poem that goes beyond its simple subject. She vividly describes the act of catching a fish while using the thematic elements of figurative language, imagery, and tone to bring in many more ideas. Overall, “The Fish” is a poem that champions the beauty of nature while highlighting a negative connotation on anything artificial through a simple subject..