Question

Which lines in this excerpt from Elizabeth Bishop's "The Fish" suggest that the speaker respects the fish?

Answer 1

4)Like medals with their ribbons 
frayed and wavering, 

and 

5)a five-haired beard of wisdom 

Answer 2

Answer: The right answers are the 4 ("Like medals with their ribbons frayed and wavering") and the 5 ("a five-haired beard of wisdom").

Explanation: Just to elaborate a little on the answer, it can be added that in this part of the poem it is very noticeable that the speaker is looking at the fish with amazement - a few lines earlier she has said "I admired his sullen face." "Like medals with their ribbons / frayed and wavering, / a five-haired beard of wisdom" is a reference to the fish-line and other small pieces of fishing equipment that hung from the lower part of the fish's jaw. Rather than simply describing them, she poetically compares them to medals and a scarce beard of wisdom, which suggests that she respects the fish - as she does, letting him go eventually.