(1) Explain James Merril’s tribute to Elizabeth Bishop, whom he characterizes as “a Dream Boat / Among topheavy wrecks.”
(2) What does the image of a man standing in moonlight in “The Man-Moth” symbolize? How does Bishop use light to create feeling in the poem?
(3) Ally images from “In the Waiting Room,” “Sestina,” and “In the Village” with situations and events in Bishop’s childhood.
(4) Discuss the image of fire balloons in “The Armadillo.” What do the balloons symbolize?
(5) Contrast realistic details in Bishop’s “Filling Station” and John Updike’s “The Ex-Basketball Player.”
