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The ProdigalShort story by Elizabeth Bishop

Flashcards for The Prodigal

21 cards · 3 characters · 6 key quotes · 4 symbols · 8 vocabulary. Nothing is saved and nothing is asked for — close the tab and the deck resets.

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Characters · 3

  1. The Father

    The Father is the moral and emotional heart of The Prodigal, defined by his unconditional, active love.

    character

  2. The Pigs (symbolic presence)

    The Pigs play a brief yet profoundly impactful role in The Prodigal, serving more as a moral and spiritual reflection for the Prodigal during his lowest moment than as traditional characters.

    character

  3. The Prodigal

    The Prodigal is the main character of the story, and his journey from reckless self-destruction to a humbled self-awareness is the backbone of the narrative.

    character

Key quotes · 6

  1. “the sunrise glazed the barnyard mud with red; / the burning puddles seemed to reassure.”

    These lines are from Elizabeth Bishop's poem "The Prodigal," which is a two-sonnet sequence that reinterprets the biblical story of the Prodigal Son.

    Narrative voice / Elizabeth Bishop

  2. “The brown enormous odor he lived by / was too close, with its breathing and thick hair.”

    This couplet opens Elizabeth Bishop's poem "The Prodigal" (1951), which reimagines the biblical Parable of the Prodigal Son.

    Omniscient narrator

  3. “But sometimes mornings after drinking bouts / (he hid the pints behind a two-by-four)”

    This couplet opens John Ciardi's confessional poem "The Prodigal," which uses the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15) to delve into themes of alcoholism, shame, and the chance for grace.

    The speaker / narrator (semi-autobiographical voice)

  4. “And then he thought he almost might endure / his exile yet another year or more.”

    These closing lines of A. E. Housman's short poem "The Prodigal" reveal the speaker's inner thoughts as he reflects on his self-imposed distance from home.

    The prodigal (lyric speaker)

  5. “Carrying a bucket along a slimy board, / he felt the bats' uncertain staggering flight.”

    This opening couplet is from Derek Walcott's poem "The Prodigal," found in the 2004 collection of the same name.

    Narrative speaker / the Prodigal figure · Part I

  6. “It took him a long time / finally to make his mind up to go home.”

    This opening couplet from Elizabeth Bishop's poem "The Prodigal" introduces a speaker living in squalor with pigs, echoing the biblical Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15).

    Narrative voice / Elizabeth Bishop · The Prodigal

Symbols · 4

  1. Alcohol / Lantern Light

    In The Prodigal, alcohol symbolizes both self-destruction and a desperate craving for warmth.

  2. Mud and Filth

    In The Prodigal, mud and filth represent the protagonist's moral and spiritual decline.

  3. The Pigsty

    In The Prodigal, the pigsty represents the lowest point of self-inflicted degradation and the moment of moral awakening.

  4. The Sunrise

    In The Prodigal, the sunrise symbolizes renewal, grace, and the chance for a fresh start.

Vocabulary · 8

  1. prodigal

    A person who has left home and wasted their money or opportunities through reckless, irresponsible living, often referring to the biblical parable of the son who squanders his inheritance.

    noun · Chapter 1

  2. pigsty

    An enclosed pen or shed where pigs are kept, typically filthy and foul-smelling; here it is the degraded place where the prodigal has ended up living and working.

    noun · Chapter 1

  3. slop

    Liquid kitchen waste or watery food scraps fed to pigs; cheap, disgusting swill that represents the lowest form of sustenance.

    noun · Chapter 1

  4. snored

    Made a loud, rough breathing sound while sleeping; here the pigs sleep noisily, emphasizing the animal, unconscious world the prodigal is trapped in.

    verb · Chapter 1

  5. enormous

    Overwhelmingly large or overpowering; used here to describe a smell so vast and all-surrounding that it becomes impossible to think clearly or gain perspective.

    adjective · Chapter 1

  6. odor

    A strong, pervasive smell, especially an unpleasant one; here the stench of the pigsty is so constant and engulfing that the prodigal has become numb to it.

    noun · Chapter 1

  7. judge

    To step back and assess one's situation clearly and objectively; here it means the prodigal cannot evaluate how badly off he is because he is too immersed in his degraded surroundings.

    verb · Chapter 1

  8. make his mind up

    To finally reach a firm decision after a long period of hesitation or inner conflict; the phrase stresses how difficult and drawn-out the prodigal's choice to return home actually was.

    phrase · Chapter 1