‘The Fisherman’

1. Contextual Points/key Ideas ‘The Fisherman’ • Written in 1916...early work contained mostly romantic themes; some of them exist here. • Romanticism (beautiful landscapes, one central figure, the figure is the seeker; emotional and enthusiastic in its embracing of the large, impressive forces of nature and the infinite resources of the human; the need to escape the structure of the rigid conditions, find transcendence in nature)

2. Symbolists...bridge between romantics and modernist • Symbolism moment (yearn for transcendence but more decadent, the symbolic meaning of words/images/people, deal with dream world, the time between dusk and dawn, drawn on properties of music) • Modernism (more daring in form, reduction of man to fragments (cubism), concerned with the relationship between man and his environment and the environment and the man, focus on machines not man or nature)

3. The poem was written post the establishment of the Abbey Theatre--pro nationalism, now the director, Catherine niHoulihan • Post J.M. Synge's play ‘The Playboy of the Western World’...controversial play that scorned/resented/hatred of contemporary Irish society...he bravely defended this play • Becoming more aware of the cruelty of various governments; greater sense of disdain for contemporaries • Commitment to how he perceived Ireland...romanticised ideal • Elements of reflection • Some Undercurrent ofhope/optimism

4. Task: Find Elements of the Contextual Factors in the Poem

5. Task: Find Elements of the Contextual Factors in the Poem Groups Megan E, Mark, Megan T Fleur, Ladi, Rachel, Esther Charlie H., Eleanor, Emily F., Dan Imogen, Matthew, Laura Megan W., Charlie K., Rebecca, Grace • Annotate the poem • Address all areas (Language, Imagery, Form, Structure/Sounds) • Discuss your ideas • Prepare to present…annotate the poem on the whiteboard