Emily Dickinson's 'I heard a Fly buzz - when I died -' Poem Analysis

Poem Analysis

• The poem "I heard a Fly buzz – when I died –" by Emily Dickinson explores the themes of death, ceremony, and the lack of control over one's own death.
• The poem is characterised by a striking air of self-indulgence, as Dickinson imagines the moments before her own death.

Style and Imagery

• Dickinson's precise language focuses on the ceremony of death, creating a sense of tension and atmosphere in the room.
• The use of repetition attempts to capture the atmosphere in the room, emphasizing the precision of the moment.
• The poem employs synecdoche, pathetic fallacy, and synaesthesia to create vivid and striking imagery.
• Dickinson's trademark dashes add to the sense of tension and uncertainty in the poem.

Key Quotes and Analysis

• "I heard a Fly buzz – when I died –" : The opening line juxtaposes the ordinary act of hearing a fly buzz with the extraordinary moment of death.
• "The Stillness in the Room / Was like the Stillness in the Air –" : Dickinson compares the stillness in the room to the stillness in the air between the heaves of a storm, creating a sense of tension and uncertainty.
• "The Eyes around – had wrung them dry –" : Dickinson uses synecdoche to refer to the people around her deathbed as "Eyes", emphasising their emotional state.
• "I willed my Keepsakes – Signed away" : The speaker is getting their affairs in order, but is disrupted by the arrival of a fly.
• "With Blue – uncertain stumbling Buzz –" : Dickinson describes the sound of the fly in terms of color and movement, creating an unsettling effect.

Symbolism and Themes

• The fly may symbolise death, decay, or even the devil, adding to the sense of unease and uncertainty in the poem.
• The poem explores the idea of ceremony and paying respect to a loved one, as well as the inability to control one's own death.
• Dickinson's focus on the fly at the end of the poem creates a sense of distraction and disorientation, underscoring the theme of the uncertainty of death.