I Heard A Fly Buzz- When I Died- Flashcards
When was “I heard a fly buzz” published
1862
What is the structure “I heard a fly buzz”
4 stanzas in quatrains
Regular iambic tetrameter and trimeter
What is the form of “I heard a fly buzz”
Dramatic monologue
Half “uncertain perfect” and full rhyme
What is the theme of “I heard a fly buzz”
Death
Anti-climax of death
Mundane
What is the tone of “I heard a fly buzz”
Unimpressed tone
Disappointing
What are quick language techniques of ‘I heard a fly buzz’ (1)
- Ceasura, the dashes adds an abrupt jump into the theme of the poem in past tense.
- repetition of stillness, contrasts the onomatopoeia of buzz causing heavy air
- Pathetic Falasy and personification “between the heaves of storm” of death rattle to further show the awaiting of death.
- metaphor “had wrung them dry” for people exhausted from crying a classic death bed scene
Quick language techniques (2)
- religious allusion “when the king” her religion was unsure further stating a classic deathbed scene/king contrasts a fly
- caesura “signed away” it was an expected death people were ready
- colour imagery “with blue” synatheasia showing a loud buzz of a blue bottle
- metaphor, “windows failed” the senses are going closing her eyes.
Quick language techniques (3)
- full rhyme, “I couldn’t not see to see” to show senses are breaking down.
- Symbolism of the fly representing the fly blocking the light now she’s died, this opposites her religious as instead of a god controlling death it’s a insignificant fly
Quick overview of “I heard a fly buzz”
This poem depicts a person narrating their deathbed with people watching while an obnoxious fly ruin the moment that is teed up to be a glorious moment which turns to be mundane and uninteresting moment
Quick context
Critic Charles Anderson stated she was never at the mercy of her emotions
Caroline Rogue A nineteenthcentury deathbed scene before the use of anodynes
She apparently underwent a conversion experience at age 15 when a religious Revival took place in Amherst
