The Prodigal (Leaving Cert English): Flashcards
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What inspired Elizabeth Bishop to write 'The Prodigal'?
What inspired Elizabeth Bishop to write 'The Prodigal'?
A drink offer in a pigsty during her 1946 Nova Scotia trip.
What struggles did Bishop face in her life?
What struggles did Bishop face in her life?
She struggled with alcoholism and depression throughout her life.
When was 'The Prodigal' published?
When was 'The Prodigal' published?
It was published in the New Yorker on 13 March 1951.
What is the main theme of 'The Prodigal'?
What is the main theme of 'The Prodigal'?
It explores the exile of the alcoholic and related isolation.
How does nature play a role in the poem?
How does nature play a role in the poem?
Nature acts as a bringer of wisdom and self-awareness.
What does the poem evoke despite its grim themes?
What does the poem evoke despite its grim themes?
It evokes a sense of nobility and the flicker of the soul.
What is the structure of 'The Prodigal' poem?
What is the structure of 'The Prodigal' poem?
'The Prodigal' consists of two 14-line sonnets.
What is unique about the rhyme scheme in the poem?
What is unique about the rhyme scheme in the poem?
The rhyme schemes are eccentric or virtually absent.
What rhythm is used in 'The Prodigal'?
What rhythm is used in 'The Prodigal'?
It mixes iambic pentameter and four-stress lines.
What quote exemplifies the poem's realism?
What quote exemplifies the poem's realism?
“even to the sow that always ate her young – till, sickening…”