Question

Which words or phrases in this excerpt from Elizabeth Bishop's "The Fish" compare the fish to an old, experienced soldier? A green line, frayed at the endwhere he broke it, two heavier lines,and a fine black threadstill crimped from the strain and snapwhen it broke and he got away.Like medals with their ribbonsfrayed and wavering,a five-haired beard of wisdomtrailing from his aching jaw.I stared and staredand victory filled upthe little rented boat,from the pool of bilgewhere oil had spread a rainbow

Answer 1

Answer:

Like medals with their ribbons  // frayed and wavering,  // a five-haired beard of wisdom // trailing from his aching jaw. //.....and victory filled up....//

Explanation:

These expressions and words compare the fish to an old experienced soldier. The poet, Elizabeth Bishop, describes how the fish she has caught struggles to set itself free.

The green line, a thread look like medals.  These are frayed and wavering because the fish has put a fight to get free. Then , the fish has got barbells and these are compared to a soldier's beard . This soldier is old and experienced because he has got a five-haired beard of wisdom // trailing from his aching jaw. The fish has fought bravely and has won: victory filled up the little rented boat.

Answer 2

The correct answer is: Like medals with their ribbons frayed and wavering, a five-haired beard of wisdom trailing from his aching jaw.

Experienced soldiers come back to their ordinary lives from battlefields with two possessions: a medal (or medals) and wisdom. Not only they have survived the horrors of a war, but they have learned and aged from the experiences they had to go through.

So does the fish, after breaking free from the fishing line. It goes back to the water victorious, alive and experienced.