An uncomplicated poem can force an author to say more with much less. While it may sound cliché, it rings true when you examine “The Fish” by Elizabeth Bishop. Elizabeth's bishop poem deals with an extremely simple topic about 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 its strong emphasis throughout the poem. Elizabeth Bishop uses similes abundantly with the intention of increasing the sensation of the peach. She writes:[...] Here and there his brown skin hung in stripes like ancient wallpaper, and his pattern of darker brown was like wallpaper: shapes like roses in full bloom (9-14 ) In six lines of poetry the author is able to cram three similes that all compare the external appearance of a fish to wallpaper. As anyone who has held a trout or salmon can attest, the natural colors of these animals are not necessarily the brightest. A great word to describe the brown color of a fish is "shabby," which makes the wallpaper an excellent comparison for multiple reasons. First of all, the comparison creates an accurate image for the readers' imagination of what the fish caught in the poem looks like. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, the use of the word “wallpaper” helps create a connection for the reader between boredom and objects in the domestic sphere. Throughout her poetry, Elizabeth Bishop champions the beauty of nature through her...... medium of paper......m the "battered, venerable and simple" fish is now a decorated war hero who has fought many battles. The speaker has always had respect for the fish, but ultimately her admiration is so great that she feels compelled 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 him to kill it. “The Fish” by Elizabeth Bishop is an excellent poem that goes beyond its simple subject matter. He vividly describes the act of catching a fish while also using the thematic elements of figurative language, imagery, and tone to bring many more ideas into the picture. Overall "The Fish" is a poem that champions the beauty of nature and at the same time presents a negative connotation about all artificial things through a simple topic.