All 8 entries tagged Fishing

minnow

minnow (2.XXXII.iii).

A minnow is a small freshwater fish (Bib:CALD), suggesting here the size of the plane in the distance and specifically in a term familiar to a fisherman, like Achille, whose viewpoint is given here.

Amanda Hopkins : 07 Jun 2008 12:33 |  Tags: Achille Animals Characters Fishing Glossary Minnow Water |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

not Rome but home

like another Aeneas,/founding not Rome but home (7.LX.i).

Compare Aeneas' flight from Troy and journey in Aeneid 1. Aeneas flees with a symbol of the past (Anchises), the future (Ascanius) and his culture (figurines of the gods). Likewise, Achille attempts to flee with his own culture (his fishing boat), and a strong symbol of his past (Philoctete, and his freshly healed wound).

Amanda Hopkins : 09 Jul 2007 14:07 |  Tags: Achille Aeneas Aeneid Characters Dispossession Epic Tradition Fishing Identity & Naming Not Rome But Home Philoctete Poetics |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

betrayed by his calling

he felt betrayed/by his calling (7.LX.i).

Achille's self-questioning is akin to that of his namesake in book nine of the Iliad (9:318). Walcott ultimately appears to agree with Homer that these moments of self-reflection are overcome in times of extreme emotion, and that we cannot deny our innate purpose or destiny; Achille continues fishing to provide for Helen, and Achilleus returns to battle to help his people after the death of Patroklos.

Amanda Hopkins : 09 Jul 2007 14:02 |  Tags: Achille Achilleus Betrayed By His Calling Characters Epic Tradition Fishing Helen Iliad |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

people interfering with nature

"somewhere people interfering/with the course of nature" (7.LX.i).

A reference to Dido's attempted sabotage of Aeneas' voyage in Aeneid 4. Walcott recasts Dido's all-consuming fury and calls on the gods to create a storm as a capitalist desire to crush Achille and the 'little man', seen later in Achille's anger at the trawlers.

Amanda Hopkins : 09 Jul 2007 13:48 |  Tags: Aeneid Colonialism Epic Tradition Fishing People Interfering With Nature Tourism |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

An oar

An oar (3.XVII.iii).

The mention of a single oar echoes Odysseus' final journey as described in Odyssey 11:121-34, although it also has literal significance because a single oar would be used to guide Achille's pirogue.

Amanda Hopkins : 06 Jul 2007 14:07 |  Tags: Achille An Oar Characters Epic Tradition Fishing Odyssey Water |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

van

van (1.VII.i).

Hector's taxi or 'transport'. Hector has given up the traditional job of a fisherman to become a taxi driver for tourists.

Amanda Hopkins : 28 Jun 2007 12:58 |  Tags: Context Fishing Hector Tourism Van |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Fishing

Fishing

Amanda Hopkins : 23 Jun 2007 12:21 |  Tags: Context Fishing |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

pirogue

pirogue (1.I.ii &c).

Flat bottomed boat traditionally used in the West Indies for fishing.

Amanda Hopkins : 20 Jun 2007 13:50 |  Tags: Context Fishing Glossary Pirogue Water West Indies |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem