Elizabeth Bishop

Elizabeth Bishop is prescribed for the 2027 Leaving Cert English exam. Her poems are built on precise observation. She looks at the world with extraordinary care and finds, beneath the surface, questions about loss, identity, and belonging. Her restraint is her power. Examiners reward students who can show how Bishop uses specific detail to create emotional depth without stating feelings directly.

Prescribed Poems

Click any poem below for a full study guide with analysis, key quotes, themes, and exam strategy.

The Fish

Sestina

First Death in Nova Scotia

The Armadillo

Filling Station

The Prodigal / Questions of Travel

The Bight

At the Fishhouses

In the Waiting Room

Go Beyond the Notes