Curated set · answers marked
At the end of "The Fish," what does the speaker do with the fish she has caught?
Rationale
After taking a close look at the fish and noticing the five old fish-hooks stuck in its lip — reminders of its many struggles and survival — the speaker feels a mix of triumph and respect. In the poem's final line, she sets the fish free, saying, "And I let the fish go."
After catching the fish, what does the speaker ultimately decide to do with it?
Rationale
In a pivotal moment of the poem, the speaker has an epiphany — marked by the repeated exclamation "rainbow, rainbow, rainbow!" — and chooses to let the fish go. This decision shows the speaker's profound respect and admiration for the fish's determination to live, highlighted by the five old hooks still lodged in its jaw.
At the end of "The Fish," what does the speaker do with the fish she has caught?
Rationale
After observing the fish closely and seeing the hooks and lines from past catches stuck in its lip — marks of its survival and strength — the speaker feels a rush of wonder and triumph ("rainbow, rainbow, rainbow!") and releases the fish back into the water.