(Love Song, With Two Goldfish) By: Grace Chua 2003

Dive into Grace Chua's 'Love Song, With Two Goldfish'! This poetry analysis worksheet helps students analyze theme, structure, and character.

Match the vocabulary word with its definition: drifter a person who is continually moving from place to place. "hook, line, & sinker" refers to parts of the fishing line and is used to emphasize that someone has been completely duped or tricked. "bowled over" means to be affected with sudden wonder or surprise. Practice your pre-reading strategies: At the end of poem, write a summary. Analyze the poem with M.I.S.S.T Up to line 10, How is the fishbowl described in the poem? The bowl is comfortable and the male fish considers it his home. The bowl confines both fish to the same space. The bowl provides depressingly little space for the fish. The fish are so in love that they don't think about the bowl. How does the male fish respond to losing the love of the female fish? He is devastated and deals with his unhappiness in an unhealthy manner. He is sad but still manages to remain positive. He realizes that it is for the best, as they can never truly be together. He quickly moves on from his feelings for the female fish. PART A: Which statement identifies the central theme of the text? Love can only be maintained with communication. Love is difficult to sustain and often fades. Love is often ruined by distance. Love is ruined by wild promises that cannot be fulfilled. PART B: Which detail from the text best supports the answer to Part A? “(He's a drifter, always / floating around her, has / nowhere else to go.” (Lines 1-3) “(He's bowled over. He would / take her to the ocean, they could / count the waves.” (Lines 12-14) “(But her love's since / gone belly-up. His heart sinks / like a fish.” (Lines 18-20) “(and he could not give) / a life / beyond the / (bowl)” (Lines 25-28) PART A: How does the structure of the poem contribute to its meaning? A. The first three stanzas show the male fish falling for the female fish, and the last two stanzas reveal his unanswered feelings. The first three stanzas depict the growing love between the two fish, while the last two stanzas show why their love falls apart . The first two stanzas show the male fish falling for the female fish, and the last three stanzas show why his feelings for her change. The first two stanzas explore why the female fish loves the male fish, and the last three stanzas show why she moves on. PART B: Which TWO quotes from the text best support the answer to Part A? “(He's a drifter, always / floating around her, has / nowhere else to go.” (Lines 1-3) “He wishes / she would sing, not much, just the scales;” (Lines 3-4) “darts / behind pebbles, swallows / his charms hook, line and sinker)” (Lines 9-11) “Dive for pearls / like stars.)” (Lines 16-17) “His heart sinks / like a fish. He drinks / like a stone.” (Lines 19-21) “(and he could not give) / a life / beyond the / (bowl)” (Lines 25-28)