Summary: The Fisherman | English Class 3 ICSE PDF Download

Introduction

The poem "The Fisherman" by Abbie Farwell Brown tells us about a fisherman’s life. It shows how he works hard in the sea to catch fish and how his life is different from ours. The poem also talks about his special eyes and the interesting stories he tells.

Key Points of the Poem

• The poem talks about the life of a fisherman.
• It describes how a fisherman works at dawn and gets food from the sea.
• The poem shows how the fisherman’s life is different from others.
• It mentions the fisherman’s different eyes and the stories he tells.
• The poem highlights the fisherman’s knowledge of the sea and his dislike for city life.

Summary

Stanza 1

The fisherman goes out at dawn
When everyone's abed,
And from the bottom of the sea
Draws up his daily bread.

This stanza tells us that the fisherman starts his work early in the morning when everyone else is still sleeping. He gets his food or money by catching things from the bottom of the sea.

Stanza 2

His life is strange; half on the shore
And half upon the sea
Not quite a fish and yet not quite
The same as you and me.

This stanza explains that the fisherman’s life is different because he lives on land and also spends time in the sea. He is not like a fish or completely like people on land.

Stanza 3

The fisherman has curious eyes;
They make you feel so queer,
As if they had seen many things
Of wonder and of fear.

This stanza describes the fisherman’s strange eyes that make people feel strange. It suggests that his eyes have seen many amazing and scary things.

Stanza 4

They're like the sea on foggy days,
Not grey, nor yet quite blue;
They're like the wondrous tales he tells
Not quite - yet maybe - true.

This stanza compares the fisherman’s eyes to the sea on foggy days, which are sometimes looking grey, sometimes blue. It also says his eyes are like the amazing stories he tells, which may or may not be true.

Stanza 5

He knows so much of boats and tides,
Of winds and clouds and sky!
But when I tell of city things,
He sniffs and shuts one eye!

This stanza shows that the fisherman knows a lot about boats, sea waves, winds, clouds, and the sky. But he does not like hearing about city life and shows this by making a sound and closing one eye.

Message

The poem teaches us about the unique life of a fisherman and how his work shapes his thoughts. It shows the difference between life at sea and life in the city.

New Words with Meanings

• Abed: In bed; asleep
• Daily bread: Money or food needed to live
• Curious: Unusual
• Queer: Strange
• Foggy: Full of fog; not clear
• Wondrous: Amazing
• Tide: Wave in the sea
• Sniffs: Breathes loudly to show dislike