The poet has used sound devices such as alliteration, consonance, onomatopoeia and assonance with a perfect blend of visual images to make it a superb literary piece. This gruesome incident makes her heart bleed. The poem presents the agony and loss of a young girl who loses her flock of sheep and never unites with it again. For example, “When what to my wondering eyes did appear,” the poet has repeated the consonants /w/ to create a pointed effect in the poem. Similarly, alliteration is used in the opening lines. He has used onomatopoeias like “prancing”, “clatter” and “pawing” to create sound in the poem. Clement has made this poem unique with appropriate use of sound devices. He comes every year with a lot of gifts and sweets. The poem talks about a very well-known tradition of Christmas and illustrates the merriment and excitement of a family at the arrival of St.
With a little old driver so lively and quick, When what to my wondering eyes did appear,īut a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer, Gave a lustre of midday to objects below, The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. I sprang from my bed to see what the matter was. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads Īnd mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, The children were nestled all snug in their beds The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house For example, “I heard a Fly buzz – when I died.” Consonance is used in the sixth line where /r/ sound is repeated to create a special effect such as, “The Eyes around – had wrung them dry.” Emily has also used Onomatopoeia “buzz” which is repeated in the first and last stanza of the poem Example #2Ī Visit from St. There is an assonance in the first line where /i/ sound is repeated in the same line. Emily has used sound devices to make it a pleasant literary piece. She says that she heard a fly buzz when taking her last breath, then details the moments that led up to this event. Also, she explains what she felt while dying. The dead speaker is transcribing the events that led to her death.
‘ I Heard a Fly Buzz When I died’ is a simple and lucid poem, reflects the morbidity of death.
I heard a Fly Buzz – When I died by Emily Dickinson