# XIV: Of Birdalone's Fishing explained — The Water of the Wondrous Isles

> Chapter companion for The Water of the Wondrous Isles by William Morris.

## What happens

Birdalone goes fishing at the witch-wife's command, but secretly hides her serpent-ring in her hair before departing. The witch searches Birdalone's clothes while she is swimming but finds nothing. Birdalone enjoys a peaceful time on the eyot, catching fish and playing with birds, before returning home.

## Themes in this chapter

### Female Agency and Autonomy

Birdalone exercises cunning and independence by hiding her ring and enjoying her time on the eyot despite the witch's surveillance.

### Nature and the Wild

The chapter vividly depicts Birdalone's interaction with the natural world, including swimming, fishing, and playing with birds on the eyot.

## Character check-ins

### Birdalone

Birdalone goes fishing, hides her serpent-ring in her hair, and enjoys a moment of freedom on the eyot.

### The Witch Wife

The witch-wife sends Birdalone fishing, searches her clothes, and watches her suspiciously.

## Key lines

> Now were the days wearing toward wheat-harvest, and nought befell to tell of, save that on a morn the witch-wife called Birdalone to her, and said: Now is little to be done till the wheat is ready for the hook, and thy days are idle; or what is that word that fell from thee that other day, that there be good swims for fish about the eyots?

As harvest time approached, the witch-wife told Birdalone she had little to do and suggested she go fishing at the eyots, as Birdalone had mentioned earlier.

_The witch-wife initiates the fishing trip, using Birdalone's own words to set the task._

> She undid the bosom of her gown, and took forth her serpent-ring; for she bore it next to her skin, made fast to the bosom of her smock; but now she hid it carefully in the thickest of her brow-hair, which was very thick and soft.

Birdalone removed her serpent-ring from its hiding place on her smock and concealed it in her thick hair.

_Birdalone's cunning act of hiding the ring shows her wariness of the witch._

> Birdalone looked through the willow-boughs, and saw her turn away; then she fared to her fishing with a smile, and soon had plenteous catch from under the willow-boughs.

After the witch left, Birdalone smiled and began fishing, quickly catching many fish.

_Birdalone's relief and enjoyment are evident once the witch departs._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/xiv-of-birdalone-s-fishing
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters