Part 4 Emily Dickinson 艾米丽 迪金森.ppt

EmilyDickinson 1830 86 a lifeandworkspioneerofmodernpoetry esp theImagism Life EmilyDickinsonwasbornintooneofAmherst Massachusetts mostprominentfamilieson10December1830 ShewasthesecondchildborntoEmilyNorcross 1804 1882 andEdwardDickinson 1803 1874 aYalegraduate successfullawyer TreasurerforAmherstCollegeandaUnitedStatesCongressman Life EmilyhadanolderbrothernamedWilliamAustinDickinson 1829 1895 knownasAustin whowouldmarryhermostintimatefriendSusanGilbertin1856 TheDickinsonswerestrongadvocatesforeducationandEmilytoobenefitedfromanearlyeducationinclassicliterature studyingthewritingsofVirgilandLatin mathematics history andbotany Life Dickinsonprovedtobeadazzlingstudentandin1847 thoughshewasalreadysomewhatofa homebody attheageofseventeenEmilyleftforSouthHadley MassachusettstoattendtheMountHolyokeFemaleSeminary Shestayedtherelessthanayearandsomeofthetheoriesastowhysheleftarehomesicknessandpoorhealth Life Shewasinthemidstofthecollegetown ssocietyandbustlealthoughshestartedtospendmoretimealone readingandmaintaininglivelycorrespondenceswithfriendsandrelatives EmilyDickinsondiedon15May1886 attheageoffifty six ShenowrestsintheWestCemeteryofAmherst HampshireCounty Massachusetts Notwishingachurchservice agatheringwasheldattheHomestead b significance 1 masteroflyricalpersonalpoems个人抒情诗的大师 2 unconventionalinform非传统的诗歌形式 3 poetofidea有思想的 迪金森被公认为美国 镀金时代 崛起的伟大作家之一 美国罕有的文学天才 她的诗歌不循章法 内容广阔 语言简朴 意象奇特 韵律多变化 以其独来独往的姿态为美国诗坛树立了新的里程碑 吴富恒 王誉公 美国作家论 第468 9页 c style风格 1 irregularuseofpunctuation标点符号的不规则使用 2 irregularuseofcapitalletters importanttoexpressheridea 不规则使用大写字母 3 twistedungrammatical misspelling语法上的错误 4 diction mostlysimple wordsnotcommonlyused用词简单 用不常见的词 Herdictionhastwocorrespondingfeatures wordsofLatinorGreekoriginand sharplyopposedtothese theconcreteSaxonelement Itisthisverbalconflictthatgivesherverseitshightension theLatinforideasandtheSaxonforperceptions thepeculiarvirtueofEnglishasapoeticlanguage 5 off rhymed unusualandnorhymescheme 没有韵律MostofherpoemsarewritteninmeterscommontoProtestanthymnbooks 新教的经文Wefindmostlyquatrainsorcouplets withtrimeterortetrameteriniambicpattern Usuallytheevenlinesrhymetogether butquiteoften wefindslantrhymesoroffrhymes whichalmostdevelopedintofreeverse 6 strangeimage metaphor useofmetaphors 喜欢用奇怪的意象和隐喻Herpoetryisrichinimages Inthebestofherpoemseverywordsisapictureseen Herpersuitofeconomyofexpression laconicbrevity descriptivedirectnessmarkedDicksonasoneoftheprecursorsoftheImagistMovement d themes诗歌的主题 1 deathandimmortalityordoubtabouttheafterlife死亡Morethan70poemsofhersdealwithlife probing explainingandexpressingthemeaningoflifethroughmulti facets Thewayshetreateddeathwasastonishing Sometimesshewasanoutsider observingdeath sometimesshewasobservingherowndeath 她对死亡的态度 一个局外人 观察着死亡 观察着自己的死亡Shebelievedthatlifewasabeginningandthatdeathwasalsoabeginningofanewlife Deathledtoimmortality 死亡会走向永生 Butthesameskepticism怀疑thatmarkedherskepticalreligiousbeliefalsobroughtaboutherambivalentattitudeaboutthepossibilityofachievingimmortalityafterdeath 2 nature beautifulandunknowable 大自然 美 和 未知Therewereabout300poemsdealingwiththissubjectmatter Sheseemedtobefamiliarwithitintimatelyandshedescribednatureinaminuteway Nature inthehandsofDickinson isanimated Ontheonehand naturewasbenevolentandpleasant Itofferedthepoetmuchhappinessandpleasure Ontheotherhand naturewascruelandindifferent 一方面 大自然是可爱的 带给世人许多幸福与欢乐 另外一方面 在诗人看来 大自然也是残酷和无情的 3 love爱情about120poemsonthetheme Thepoettreatedthisthemefromdifferentangles Althoughthepoetdidnothaveacolorfulexperienceoflife shemeditated冥想 沉思lifedeeperthanothers Althoughsheremainedaspinsteruntilherdeath sheundoubtedlyexperiencedthesweetnessandbitternessoflove 虽然终生未婚 她也经历了爱的甜蜜与苦涩 4 religion宗教Inherpoems sheexpressedherdoubttowardstheexistenceofGodandHisbenevolence 仁慈 ShewasespeciallysatiricalaboutGodbecauseoftheexistenceofevilthingsintheworld 她怀疑上帝的存在和上帝的仁慈 因为有这么多的罪恶存在 ShewasinfluencebyCalvinisticdoctrineswhichcenteredonpredestinationandpessimism Thereforewefindatragictoneprevailingmostofherpoetry 深受加尔文教派的影响 宿命和悲观主义 所以她的诗歌总是有悲伤的调子 Itastealiquorneverbrewed EmilyDickinson 1830 1886 Itastealiquorneverbrewed 我品尝未酿之酒Fromtankardsscoopedinpearl 从勺取自珍珠的大酒杯NotallthevatsupontheRhine并非莱因河岸所有大酒桶Yieldsuchanalcohol 得酿成如此酒精Thepoemisaboutnatureandhowexperiencingitissowonderfulandintoxicatingthatit slikebeingdrunk 这首诗是关于大自然 体验大自然是如此美好就如同喝醉了酒 Shetastesaliquorthatneverexisted meaningtheliquorsymbolizessomethingelse nature VatsarecontainersusedtoholdliquidsandtheRhineisariverthatrunsthroughGermany whichisacountryfamousformakingbeersandothersuchbeverages 作者品尝了从未存在过的酒 暗示这酒意味着其他东西 大自然 Vats大酒桶RhineRiver横穿德国的河流 德国 制造啤酒和其他酒很出名 InebriateofairamI 狂饮空气使我酩酊Anddebaucheeofdew 暴饮露汁Reeling throughendlesssummerdays 经由无数夏日Frominnsofmoltenblue 从综蓝天上旅舍卷过 She sbreathingintheairanddew debaucheemeansapersonwhocan tgetenoughofsomething andreels staggers keepingupwiththethemeofbeingdrunk throughnicesummerdays Intheline Frominnsofmoltenblue thewordinnsreferstoatavern andmoltenbluereferstothebluesky 她呼吸着空气和露珠 像一个debauchee纵欲的人 Reeling 脚步蹒跚走出酒馆 Whenthelandlordturnthedrunkenbee当大地主人将醉蜂Outofthefoxglove sdoor 赶出指顶花之门Whenbutterfliesrenouncetheirdrams 当 醉 蝴蝶放弃它们的一小杯Ishallbutdrinkthemore 我却将品尝更多 Abartenderkicksoutadrunklikeabeeleavesafoxglove it saflowerthathasaroundopeningandadeepinside Isupposeit skindoflikeleavingadoor It salsoimportanttonotethatthefoxgloveispoisonoustohumans I vealwaystakenthisasareferencetothefactthatalcoholcanbedeadly butothershavesaidit sareferencetosuicide Dramsaresmallamountsofliquor Thelinetalksabouthowwhenapersonhashadenoughtodrink theyjustgobacktohavesomemore 酒保把醉客赶走就像蜜蜂离开foxglove 毛地黄花 dram 少量的酒 当人喝够了以后 还想再喝 Tillseraphsswingtheirsnowyhats 直到六翼天使摆动她们的雪帽Andsaintstowindowsrun 而且圣徒奔向窗口Toseethelittletippler去看小酒鬼Leaningagainstthesun 斜靠太阳 Shewillcontinuedrinking enjoyingnature untilseraphs whicharethehighestranksofangels andsaintsnoticeher meaningshewillenjoynatureuntilshehasdied 她会一直喝下去 直到六翼天使 职位最高的天使 发现她 意思是会享受自然直到死去 DickinsonwasgreatlyinfluencedbyEmerson stranscendentalism Shehadaprofoundlovefornatureandwasoftenintoxicatedwiththebeautyofnature Thispoemisafineexample 诗人深受超经验主义的影响 她挚爱大自然并沉醉在自然的美景之中 Thepoetcomparesnaturetoliquorthathasneverbeenbrewedandherselftoadebauchee 浪荡子 wholoveswinemorethanherlife Theimagethepoetusestosuggestdrunkennessepitomizesherdeeplovefornature 诗人把自然比喻成她从未喝过的酒 把自己比喻成一个纵酒的人 暗示诗人对大自然的挚爱就像酒鬼对酒的沉迷 IfeltaFuneral inmybrain InEmilyDickinson spoem IFeltaFuneralinMyBrain Dickinsondescribeswhatseemstobeafuneralinhermind Whenonethinksofafuneral however theyusuallythinkofaceremonyforapersonwhohasdied AlthoughDickinsondescribeseventsthatusuallytakeplaceatafuneral mourners aservice liftingofaboxorwhatseemstobeimpliedasacoffin noonehasdied nooneisbeingburied ThisfuneralthatDickinsonisexperiencinginherbrain isactuallyafuneralforthedeathofhermind 作者在这首诗歌中描述了她脑海中的葬礼 诗人描述了哀悼者 布道 棺材 但没有人死去 没有人被埋 这场葬礼只是诗人为她脑海中已经逝世的人想象的 IfeltaFuneral inmyBrain 在腦中 我感受到 葬禮 AndMournerstoandfro哀悼者來來去去不停地踩著 踩著 直到Kepttreading treading tillitseemedThatSensewasbreakingthrough 意识快要有有所突破 InthefirststanzaDickinsonbeginstodescribethisslowdeathofhermindwhenshesays Mournerstoandfrokepttreading treadingtillitseemedthatsensewasgivingway ThemournersDickinsonspeaksofseemtosignifyherthoughtsandthesethoughtsarepassingbackandforthinhermind tillitseemedthatsensewasgivingway orallreasonwasbeginningtofail 哀悼者在她脑海中走来走去 快要失去理智 哀悼者的出现表明这些想法在她脑海中穿来穿去 Andwhentheyallwereseated 當他們都坐定位後 AService likeaDrum 葬禮儀式 像隻鼓Keptbeating beating 不停地敲打 敲打 tillIthoughtMyMindwasgoingnumb 直到我心已麻木為止 Theceremonyforthedeathofhermindhasnowbegun andthe beating beating seemstoemphasizethesethoughtsthatcontinuetodestroywhatisleftofhersanity 她脑海中的葬礼在进行 不断地敲着她的脑海 诗人在强调她的意志力快要被攻破 AndthenIheardthemliftaBox然後我聽到他們抬起棺木AndcreakacrossmySoul再次地 以那些同樣的鉛鞋傾踩過我的靈魂WiththosesameBootsofLead again ThenSpace begantotoll 然後空間 開始響起喪鐘 Afterthefuneralserviceisoverandthepallbearerscarrythecoffintothecemetery Dickinsontriesherlastandfinalattempttocontrolhersanityasshedescribesinthethirdstanza ThenIheardthemliftabox Andcreakacrossmysoul WiththosesameBootsofLead again Thenspacebegantotoll 随着葬礼结束 棺木被送往墓地 诗人控制住自己 保持自己最后的理智 AsalltheHeavenswereaBell 所有的天堂就像個鈴鐺AndBeing butanEar 存在 就像是只耳朵AndI andSilence somestrangeRace而我和靜默是某種奇怪的族類Wrecked solitary here 翻覆於此 孤單寂寞 InthisstanzaDickinsonimpliesthathermindisabouttobeburied andashermindisbeingburied shehearsthoselastthoughtsofreasoning andsuddenlyallthouhtsaregoneandtheonlyoneleftisDickinson andsilence somestrangeracehere 诗人暗示她的心 如同棺木一样被埋在地下 那些理智的思考全被埋 剩下诗人自己 孤独 寂寞 AndthenaPlankinReason broke 然後理性的支架 崩裂 AndIdroppeddown anddown 我掉落 又掉落AndhitaWorld ateveryplunge 猛然地撞到一個世界Andfinishedknowing then 然後豁然開朗透徹明白 Inthelaststanza asthecoffinisbeingloweredtotheground Dickinsondescribesthefinalresultofthedeathofhermindassheexplains AndthenaPlankinReasonbroke AndIdroppeddown anddown AsDickinson sisbeingloweredinthegroundthebottomofthecoffinsuddenlybreaks implyingthatthis PlankinReason isalevelofunderstanding thinking knowing ThenDickinson hitsaWorld ateveryplunge passingthroughdifferent worlds orlevelsofsanity whereshegoesfromreasoningto Finishedknowingthen orunreasoning notthinking notknowing insanity 最后一节 棺木被放下去 诗人描述自己脑海中的理性思考的支架 理解 思考 认知崩溃 裂开 到了另一世界 失去理智的世界 在脑中 我感受到 葬礼 所有的天堂就像个铃铛存在 就像是只耳朵而我和静默是某种奇怪的族类翻覆于此 孤单寂寞然后理性的支架 崩裂 我掉落 又掉落猛然地撞到一个世界然后豁然开朗透彻明白 AnalysisonABirdcamedownthewalk Abrilliantpoetknowshowtouseimagery soundandmetaphortotellastoryorcreateavividsceneandimpression Dickinsonreachesawonderfulbalancebetweenimaginationandobservationinthispoem thoughsimpleandlucidmetaphor 一个优秀的诗人懂得如何运用意象 声音 和比喻来讲诉故事或者描述形象的场景 让读者印象深刻 在这首短诗中 诗人的想象力和观察力在诗歌中得到充分的体现 虽然只是用了很简单的 清晰的比喻 ABirdcamedowntheWalk 一只鸟飞到路上 HedidnotknowIsaw 不知我在看着 HebitanAngleworminhalves他把蚯蚓撕成两半Andatethefellow raw 活着吃下了 AndthenhedrankaDew后来他就着身边的草FromaconvenientGrass 饮了一滴露水 AndthenhoppedsidewisetotheWall又跳到墙角边ToLetaBeetlepass 给一只蜜蜂让路 Heglancedwithrapideyes他锐利的双目Thathurriedallaround 四处飞顾 TheylookedlikefrightenedBeads Ithought 小眼珠似乎透着害怕 我自忖道 HestirredhisVelvetHead他抖了抖头顶的羽毛 Inthethirdstanza Thebird seyesaretreatedlikeacreature abletorunaround Heglancedwithrapideyes Thathurriedallaround Dickinsonusedasimileandcomparedthebird seyestobeads TheylookedlikefrightenedBeads avividdescriptionofeyemovementofafrightenedbird Beads珠子作者把小鸟的眼睛比喻成珠子 一个受伤的小鸟的形象描述 Likeoneindanger Cautious 小鸟像是受了惊 于是小心的 IofferedhimaCrumb我喂了一些面包屑 Andheunrolledhisfeathers他张开双翼Androwedhimsofterhome 摇他回家的羽桨 Inthefourthstanza Dickinsondescribesthemotionofbirdspreadingitswingsasrowingoars Butitisa softer motion becauseitisflyingthroughairinsteadofrowingthroughwater Andheunrolledhisfeathers Androwedhimsofterhome 小鸟展开翅膀就像划桨 但更柔和 因为是划过天空 不是划过水面 ThanOars 桨 dividetheOcean 如此轻柔 Toosilverforaseam 裂痕 指波纹 如此耀眼 OrButterflies offBanksofNoon连午后岸边的蝴蝶 Leap Plashlessastheyswim 也禁不住翩飞起舞 InthelaststanzaDickinsonskillfullyusesimagesofseatodescribeabird sflightinthesky Itswingscutstheairsofterthanoarscutasparkling silver oceanthatshowsnolingeringtracesofhavingbeenrowed Themotionofflyingissofterthanbutterfliesleapoffnothingness ThatDickinsonuses plashless insteadof splashless alsosuggestsa softer motion banks heresuggestcloudbanks 最后一节 作者用海的意象来描述鸟在天空的飞翔 它的翅膀划过天空比桨划过海面还要柔软 飞翔的动作比蝴蝶离岸还要轻 SummaryThespeakerdescribesonceseeingabirdcomedownthewalk unawarethatitwasbeingwatched Thebirdateanangleworm then drankaDew FromaconvenientGrass thenhoppedsidewaystoletabeetlepassby Thebird sfrightened bead likeeyesglancedallaround Cautiously thespeakerofferedhim aCrumb butthebird unrolledhisfeathers andflewaway asthoughrowinginthewater butwithagracegentlerthanthatwithwhich Oarsdividetheocean orbutterfliesleap offBanksofNoon thebirdappearedtoswimwithoutsplashing 描述者看到一只鸟走在路上 这只鸟不知道自己被看着 这鸟吃了一条蚯蚓 还喝了露水 然后在路边躲闪 让甲壳虫经过 小鸟似乎受到了惊吓 珠子一样的眼睛四处张望 当作者小心谨慎地给它面包屑的时候 它飞走了 如同在水里划走了一样 但比桨划在水里 蝴蝶离岸飞走还要温柔 优雅 CommentaryEmilyDickinson slifeprovesthatitisnotnecessarytotravelwidelyorleadalifefullofRomanticgrandeurandextremedramainordertowritegreatpoetry aloneinherhouseatAmherst Dickinsonponderedherexperienceasfully andfeltitasacutely asanypoetwhohaseverlived Inthispoem thesimpleexperienceofwatchingabirdhopdownapathallowshertoexhibitherextraordinarypoeticpowersofobservationanddescription 艾米丽迪金森的生活证明要写出伟大的诗句不一定要行万里路或过着浪漫戏剧般的生活 就在阿默斯特她自己的房间 如世上任何一位诗人 迪金森充分地思考 敏锐地捕捉 在这首诗里 一只鸟走在路上 这种简单的经历让迪金森展示了她非凡的观察和描述的能力 Butthemostremarkablefeatureofthispoemistheimageryofitsfinalstanza inwhichDickinsonprovidesoneofthemostbreath takingdescriptionsofflyinginallofpoetry Simplybyofferingtwoquickcomparisonsofflightandbyusingaquaticmotion rowingandswimming sheevokesthedelicacyandfluidityofmovingthroughair Theimageofbutterfliesleaping offBanksofNoon splashlesslyswimmingthoughthesky isoneofthemostmemorableinallDickinson swriting 这首诗最精彩的部分在最后一节的意象 对飞行的叫人叹绝的描述 作者只是用了两个飞行的比喻 水上的动作 划桨和游泳 划破长空的精确和优美 蝴蝶离岸 如同划破水平 却无痕 是迪金森最令人难忘的描述 IDiedForBeautyButWasScarce IdiedforbeautybutwasscarceAdjustedinthetomb WhenonewhodiedfortruthwaslainInanadjoiningroom HequestionedsoftlywhyIfailed Forbeauty Ireplied AndIfortruth thetwoareone Webrethrenare hesaid Andso askinsmenmetanight Wetalkedbetweentherooms Untilthemosshadreachedourlips Andcoveredupournames 殉美 我为美死去 我为美死去 但是还不曾安息在我的墓里 又有个为真理而死去的人来躺在我的隔壁 他悄悄地问我为何以身殉 为了美 我说 而我为真理 两者不分家 我们是兄弟两个 于是象亲戚在夜间相遇 我们便隔墙谈天 直到青苔爬到了唇际 将我们的名字遮掩 Thespeaker diedforBeautyamanlaidinatombnexttoher diedforTruth Whenthetwosoftlytoldeachotherwhytheydied themandeclaredthatTruthandBeautyarethesamesoheandthespeakerwere Brethren andtalkedasKinsmen betweentheirtombsuntilthemossreachedtheirlipsandcoveredupthenamesontheirtombstones bizarre allegoricaldeathfantasyitsmannerofpresentationbelongsuniquelytoDickinson BeautyisTruth TruthBeauty Keats OdeonaGrecianUrnthemacabrephysicalityofdeath thehighidealismofmartyrdom IdiedforBeauty OnewhodiedforTruth acertainkindofromanticyearningcombinedwithlongingforPlatoniccompanionship Andso asKinsmen metaNight andanoptimismabouttheafterlife itwouldbenicetohaveafriend withterroraboutthefactofdeath itwouldbehorribletolieinthecemeteryhavingaconversationthroughthewallsofatomb Asthepoemprogresses thehighidealismandyearningforcompanionshipgraduallygivewaytomute colddeath asthemosscreepsupthespeaker scorpseandherheadstone obliteratingbothhercapacitytospeak coveringherlips andheridentity coveringhername Theultimateeffectofthispoemistoshowthateveryaspectofhumanlife ideals humanfeelings identityitself iserasedbydeath Butbymakingtheerasuregradual somethingtobe adjusted tointhetomb andbyportrayingaspeakerwhoisuntroubledbyherowngrimstate Dickinsoncreatesascenethatis byturns grotesqueandcompelling frighteningandcomforting Poeticforms ThispoemfollowsmanyofDickinson stypicalformalpatterns theABCBrhymescheme therhythmicuseofthedashtointerrupttheflow buthasamoreregularmeterthefirstandthirdlinesineachstanzaareiambictetrameter whilethesecondandfourthlinesareiambictrimeter creatingafour three four threestresspatternineachstanza 我为美而死 我为美死去 却还不曾在墓中安息 又来一位为真理而死的人栖身我的隔壁 他悄言问我何以逝去 为了美 我回答 而我为真理 真与美是一体 我们是兄弟 就这样 像亲人在夜里相遇我们隔墙倾谈直到苍苔爬至我们的唇际掩没掉 我们的名字 译 青裳 Themes Dickinsonoftenbroughtdazzlingoriginalitytooverwroughttopics LifeLoveNatureTimeandEternityDeathandMourningReligionandFaithIsolationandDepressionPoetryandLanguage AnalysisonIdiedforBeauty butwasScarce ThepoemclearlydisplaysDickinson saestheticbelief SheshareswiththesameideaasKeats beautyandtruthareoneorganicwholewhichcannotbeseparated 这首诗展现了迪金森的美学思想 她和济慈的观点一样 美与真是一个有机的不可分割的整体 IheardaFlybuzz whenIdied 我死的时候 听见一只苍蝇嗡嗡响 房间里宁静无声好象暴风雨起伏之间 天空中宁静无声 四周的眼睛 已经哭得干枯 呼吸都坚定地聚集等候那最后的一击 这时 神在这房间里 受到注意 我立下遗嘱 馈赠遗物 签字让去属于我的部分中可以让与的 于是一只苍蝇插进来 带着沮丧的 飘忽 颠踬的嗡嗡声 飞在光亮 和我之间 于是 窗户模糊了 于是我看不见自己看什么 IheardaFlybuzz whenIdied 我死的时候 听见一只苍蝇嗡嗡地响 Thispoemisadescriptionofthemomentofdeath Keypoints 1 TheEyesaround hadwrungthemdry relativescried notearsanymore 2 theKing theGodofdeath 3 windows thedoortoheaven4 failed herdoubtoftheexistenceofeternalheaven5 WithBlue uncertainstumblingBuzz thesightofthedyingbecamedimandlisteningweak theme Thepoemdescribesthedeathbedsceneofthepersona Likemanyofhercontemporaries Dickinsonwasfascinatedwiththeexperienceofdeath theme Inparticular shewantedtoknowiftheirdeathsrevealedanyinformationaboutthenatureoftheafterlife Inthispoem sheimaginesherowndeath andtheanswersheprovidesforthedeathbedsceneisgrim asgrimasanythingsheeverwrote IheardaFlybuzz whenIdied ThispoememploysallofDickinson sformalpatterns trimeterandtetrameteriambiclines fourstressesinthefirstandthirdlinesofeachstanza threeinthesecondandfourth apatternDickinsonfollowsathermostformal rhythmicinsertionofthelongdashtointerruptthemeter andanABCBrhymescheme Interestingly alltherhymesbeforethefinalstanzaarehalf rhymes Room Storm firm Room be Fly whileonlytherhymeinthefinalstanzaisafullrhyme me see Dickinsonusesthistechniquetobuildtension asenseoftruecompletioncomesonlywiththespeaker sdeath IheardaFlybuzz whenIdied OneofDickinson smostfamouspoems IheardaFlybuzz strikinglydescribesthementaldistractionposedbyirrelevantdetailsateventhemostcrucialmoments evenatthemomentofdeath Thepoemthenbecomesevenweirderandmoremacabrebytransformingthetiny normallydisregardedflyintothefigureofdeathitself asthefly swingcutsthespeakerofffromthelightuntilshecannot seetosee Buttheflydoesnotgrowinpowerorstature itsfinalseveringactisperformed WithBlue uncertainstumblingBuzz IheardaFlybuzz whenIdied Thispoemisalsoremarkableforitsdetailedevocationofadeathbedscene thedyingperson slovedonessteelingthemselvesfortheend thedyingwomansigningawayinherwill Whatportionofmebe Assignable aturnofphrasethatseemsmoreShakespeareanthanitdoesDickinsonian IheardaFlybuzz whenIdied AnalysisonIHeardaFlybuzz whenIdied Weseethatthepoetiswatchingherowndeath Sheisrecordingtheprocessofdeath howshewilledthekeepsakes howtheflyblockedthelight howhersightandhearingfailedher Deathseemssotrivialandnaturalathingtoexperience Thehorrorandbitternesslieonthepartoftheonlookers SomecriticssuggestthattheblockingoffofthelightmayimplythattheoeotcannotseethelightcomingformHeavenandthatshecannotseetheopportunityofgainingimmortalityafterdeath Thementionof fly insteadofotherinsectsmay ontheonehand setoffthestillnessintheroom andontheotherhand suggestacomingdecadence BecauseICouldNot