Emily Dickinson, I heard a Fly buzz—when I died

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Amherst College Archives and Special Collections.

Emily Dickinson

I heard a Fly buzz—when I died (Literature To Go, p. 463)

Listen to “I heard a Fly buzz—when I died,” as read by Robert Pinsky.

Recorded by Bedford/St. Martin's with the permission of Robert Pinsky.

Considerations for Critical Thinking and Writing

  1. first response. What was expected to happen “when the King” was “witnessed” (lines 7–8)? What happened instead?

  2. Why do you think Dickinson chooses a fly rather than perhaps a bee or gnat?

  3. What is the effect of the last line? Why not end the poem with “I could not see” instead of the additional “to see”?

  4. Discuss the sounds in the poem. Are there any instances of onomatopoeia?