An Overview of the Themes in Elizabeth Bishop’s Poetry
Poem The Fish The Bight At the Fishhouses The Prodigal Questions of Travel The Armadillo Sestina First Death in Nova Scotia Filling Station In the Waiting Room Main Theme(s)
„ „Survival „„Nature
„„Nature „„Ageing „„Progress
„„Nature „„Knowledge „„Truth
„ „Alcoholism/addiction „„Home „„Forgiveness
„ „Travel „„Home
„„Nature „„War „„Appearance versus reality
„„Love „„Loss „„Childhood
„„Death „„Childhood
„„Appearance versus reality „„Love „„Home
„„Identity „„Childhood „„Gender
The selection of Bishop poems on the Leaving Certificate course is very diverse, so there are many themes to become familiar with. Of course, this diversity is what makes her such an interesting poet. Bishop is not an overtly confessional poet, so many of her themes, such as travel, death and nature, are universal and easy to identify with. Even themes directly inspired by her own life, such as alcoholism and loss, are not dealt with in an overly personal manner, but explored in such a way as to be relatable to all. Her most prominent themes are nature, childhood and appearance versus reality.
