English

Gunnar Lowe

17 June, 18:57

Read the following excerpt from the poem "The Fish" by Elizabeth Bishop:

A green line, frayed at the end

where he broke it, two heavier lines,

and a fine black thread

still crimped from the strain and snap

when it broke and he got away.

Like medals with their ribbons

frayed and wavering,

a five-haired beard of wisdom

trailing from his aching jaw.

Which best describes the effect of the poem's word choice on its meaning?

A. The speaker describes "a green line, frayed at the end where he

broke it" to show how weak the fishing line is.

B. The speaker explains why the fish has "a five-haired beard"

hanging to suggest how silly it must look.

C. The speaker describes the "aching jaw" to make the reader

empathize with the fish instead of the person.

D. The speaker compares the broken fishing lines to "medals" to

show that the fish's survival is a triumph.