Ad English 11 Poetry project Devin young Date Due: Dec.13/05 Mr. Van Zoost.

Ad English 11Ad English 11Poetry projectPoetry project

Devin young

Date Due: Dec.13/05

Mr. Van Zoost

Elizabeth BishopElizabeth Bishop

Elizabeth BishopElizabeth Bishop How she lived How she lived

* On the eighth day of February, 1911 William * On the eighth day of February, 1911 William and Gertrude Bishop gave birth to Elizabeth and Gertrude Bishop gave birth to Elizabeth

their only child. their only child.

*Gertrude became a single mother eight *Gertrude became a single mother eight months later as her husband died of kidney months later as her husband died of kidney

disease. disease.

*Gertrude was committed to a mental hospital *Gertrude was committed to a mental hospital in 1916 after a number of nervous collapses.in 1916 after a number of nervous collapses.

Elizabeth BishopElizabeth BishopContinuedContinued

*After her mother was hospitalized Elizabeth *After her mother was hospitalized Elizabeth moved in with her mothers parents who lived moved in with her mothers parents who lived in Nova Scotia.in Nova Scotia.

*At the age of six she was taken back to *At the age of six she was taken back to Worcester, Massachusetts to live with her Worcester, Massachusetts to live with her fathers parents.fathers parents.

*In 1918 Elizabeth was taken by her aunt *In 1918 Elizabeth was taken by her aunt (mothers sister) Maud Bulmer Shepherdson to (mothers sister) Maud Bulmer Shepherdson to South Boston. Here she healed from the South Boston. Here she healed from the damage her fathers parents caused.damage her fathers parents caused.

Elizabeth BishopElizabeth Bishop Continued Continued

Elizabeth lived in New York for one year after Elizabeth lived in New York for one year after graduating from Vassar university.graduating from Vassar university.

She then intermittently live through out She then intermittently live through out Europe for the following 3 years. When she Europe for the following 3 years. When she returned to America in 1938 she purchased a returned to America in 1938 she purchased a house in Key West, Florida.house in Key West, Florida.

In 1951 Elizabeth decide to travel south In 1951 Elizabeth decide to travel south America ,after being left behind she became ill America ,after being left behind she became ill and chose to stay. Elizabeth lived here for the and chose to stay. Elizabeth lived here for the next 18 years of her life.next 18 years of her life.


In that time see confided in Lota de Macedo In that time see confided in Lota de Macedo Soares and began a same sex relationship with Soares and began a same sex relationship with her.her.

* Both her and her lover were hospitalized after * Both her and her lover were hospitalized after suffering form physical and psychological suffering form physical and psychological distress. Once she had recovered she moved distress. Once she had recovered she moved back to New York with the hope Lota would back to New York with the hope Lota would join her when better. Lota did, but committed join her when better. Lota did, but committed suicide in 1967 at the age of 57.suicide in 1967 at the age of 57.


In 1970 Bishop decided to teach at Harvard, In 1970 Bishop decided to teach at Harvard, and meet Alice Methfessel. Alice became and meet Alice Methfessel. Alice became Bishop’s girlfriend for the rest of her life.Bishop’s girlfriend for the rest of her life.

On October 6On October 6thth, 1979 Bishop died in Boston, , 1979 Bishop died in Boston, Massachusetts.Massachusetts.

Elizabeth BishopElizabeth BishopHer Books and PoemsHer Books and Poems

She is known for some of her most famous She is known for some of her most famous poems called: Roosterspoems called: Roosters

SandpiperSandpiper

The FishThe Fish

The MapThe Map

The Man-MothThe Man-Moth

And other greatsAnd other greats


Although Bishop had had poems placed in books . It Although Bishop had had poems placed in books . It wasn’t until 1946 that her first book was published, it wasn’t until 1946 that her first book was published, it was titled “North and South”.was titled “North and South”.

In 1954 her second book was published , including In 1954 her second book was published , including some of the poems from her previous title. Her some of the poems from her previous title. Her second title was “A Cold Spring”second title was “A Cold Spring”

Her third book was published in 1965, titled Her third book was published in 1965, titled “Question of Travel”.“Question of Travel”.


““Complete Poems” was published in 1969 and Complete Poems” was published in 1969 and entailed all the poems from her pervious books and a entailed all the poems from her pervious books and a couple new poems.couple new poems.

When 1977 rolled around Bishop decide to write When 1977 rolled around Bishop decide to write another book to be titled “Grandmothers Glass Eye”. another book to be titled “Grandmothers Glass Eye”. This was suppose to be a book long poem, elegy. But This was suppose to be a book long poem, elegy. But turned out to be four new poems. The Book was turned out to be four new poems. The Book was never published although the poems have been never published although the poems have been included in the book titled “The Complete Poems”.included in the book titled “The Complete Poems”.

Elizabeth BishopElizabeth BishopCaught vs. My PoemCaught vs. My Poem

Caught -- the bubbleCaught -- the bubblein the spirit level,in the spirit level,a creature divided;a creature divided;and the compass needleand the compass needlewobbling and wavering,wobbling and wavering,undecided.undecided.Freed -- the brokenFreed -- the brokenthermometer's mercurythermometer's mercuryrunning away;running away;and the rainbow-birdand the rainbow-birdfrom the narrow bevelfrom the narrow bevelof the empty mirror,of the empty mirror,flying whereverflying whereverit feels like, gay!it feels like, gay!

The feeling of loosing--The cruel steel of a chainsaw's merciless blade, bringing an archaic oak to the forest floor.The defeat of fate versus man.The searing emotion of failure. The everlasting ambiguity of what may have been.The feeling from winning--Like the following of Summer after Springthe inevitable summation of your effortsOutlived by the imperishable sensation of glory,


This was my favorite out of the four poems we This was my favorite out of the four poems we had to chose from, and that was the main had to chose from, and that was the main reason that I chose to imitate it. I think that is reason that I chose to imitate it. I think that is the same because the fact that it’s written like the same because the fact that it’s written like a definition like Bishops. I also tried to keep it a definition like Bishops. I also tried to keep it the same meter, but I don’t think that worked the same meter, but I don’t think that worked out to well for me.out to well for me.

Elizabeth BishopElizabeth Bishop Response Response

Both of your parents die by the time you are finished high Both of your parents die by the time you are finished high school, you have been tossed around the family so many times school, you have been tossed around the family so many times that when you don’t even know who to trust. Sound like I’m that when you don’t even know who to trust. Sound like I’m talking about a child in Canada’s foster care?talking about a child in Canada’s foster care?

Elizabeth Bishop has over come some of the most Elizabeth Bishop has over come some of the most insurmountable obstacles in the 68 years of her life. And doing insurmountable obstacles in the 68 years of her life. And doing it in the way she wanted to. After university traveling all over it in the way she wanted to. After university traveling all over the world, searching for her true calling. This is something that the world, searching for her true calling. This is something that I dream of doing, but am soo scared of loosing control, loosing I dream of doing, but am soo scared of loosing control, loosing everything. Is the risk worth the reward? Not only “just” going everything. Is the risk worth the reward? Not only “just” going out , facing those fears, but to come out of the closet in those out , facing those fears, but to come out of the closet in those times, that’s amazing. I can not even imagine what she went times, that’s amazing. I can not even imagine what she went through being a gay female writer in the 1920’s to 1970’s.through being a gay female writer in the 1920’s to 1970’s.


Bishop’s poems are both intellectually challenging Bishop’s poems are both intellectually challenging and amusing. Just letting yourself go, being engulfed and amusing. Just letting yourself go, being engulfed by the passion of her writing, it’s overwhelming. I by the passion of her writing, it’s overwhelming. I only wish that we as a reader could share the same only wish that we as a reader could share the same time. Take the same time to read the poem as it took time. Take the same time to read the poem as it took her to transfer her passions from her brain through to her to transfer her passions from her brain through to the paper. My personal favorite was the sonnet she the paper. My personal favorite was the sonnet she wrote in 1979 titled “Caught” as it made me think the wrote in 1979 titled “Caught” as it made me think the most to understand what she was trying to say. I even most to understand what she was trying to say. I even had to get one of my teachers to help me decipher it, had to get one of my teachers to help me decipher it, but when we did I enjoyed it soo much, basically as I but when we did I enjoyed it soo much, basically as I had never thought of writing a poem in such a had never thought of writing a poem in such a manner.manner.

Elizabeth BishopElizabeth BishopContinuedContinued

Elizabeth had a very hard life, in my opinion, Elizabeth had a very hard life, in my opinion, but made it worth living and had a wonderful but made it worth living and had a wonderful time doing it. Both of your parents die by the time doing it. Both of your parents die by the time you are finished high school, you have time you are finished high school, you have been tossed around the family so many times been tossed around the family so many times that when you don’t even know who to trust. that when you don’t even know who to trust. Could you deal with it?Could you deal with it?

Elizabeth BishopElizabeth BishopBibliographyBibliography

Dale Parker,R.( date ?). Dale Parker,R.( date ?). About Elizabeth About Elizabeth Bishop Bishop . Illinois :Phs Phi : Moder American . Illinois :Phs Phi : Moder American Poetry. Retrived December 9, 2005 from the Poetry. Retrived December 9, 2005 from the world wide world wide web:http:www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/a_web:http:www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/a_f/bishop/about.htmf/bishop/about.htm

Ad English 11 Poetry project Devin young Date Due: Dec.13/05 Mr. Van Zoost.

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