Lesson 14

1. Lesson 14

2. “Auto Wreck” paragraph • Circle the title of the poem and the author’s first and last name. • Bracket the thesis statement • BLUE - Highlight quote used as evidence • GREEN – Highlight your explanation of quote • YELLOW – Highlight how the quote relates to the thesis. • THEN, TURN IN PARAGRAPH AND POEM.

3. Emily Dickinson • Virtually unknown in her lifetime • Non-conventional style • Born into a distinguished, prosperous family in Amherst, Massachusetts • Serious student with mischievous streak • Came from a devout family and was pressured to become an outspoken Christian but she refused

4. Emily Dickinson’s Stylistic Originality • What do you notice when you glance at the poem? • Dashes • What function do they serve? • Interrupters; create dramatic effect • Capitalization of Common Nouns • What function does it serve? • Emphasis on common words • Slant Rhyme • What function does it serve? • Allows the poet to maintain rhythm and integrity of the poem

5. I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died • (creepy rendition) • I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died • (still creepy – but understandable)

6. TPCASTT THIS POEM.I heard a Fly buzz – when I died – I heard a Fly buzz – when I died – The Stillness in the Room Was like the Stillness in the Air – Between the Heaves of Storm – The Eyes around – had wrung them dry – And Breaths were gathering firm For that last Onset – when the King Be witnessed – in the Room – I willed my Keepsakes – Signed away What portion of me be Assignable – and then it was There interposed a Fly – With Blue – uncertain stumbling Buzz – Between the light – and me – And then the Windows failed – and then I could not see to see –

7. The Message • What does she devote the first 2 ½ stanzas to (minus the first line)? • The expected setting when someone is about to die. • What is the dying person focused on? • The fly • What could Dickinson be revealing about what we expect death to look like and what it actually looks like? • Dickinson shows a contrast between what we expect death to be like and what it is actually like. There is no grand event, no bright light. It is actually very mundane, common.

8. What’s the Theme? • What is this poem about? • Death • Anything else mentioned? • Fly • Why a Fly? • Common, household nuisance • How does FLY relate to DEATH in the poem? • Death

9. Because I Could Not Stop for Death • Natalie Merchant "Because I Could Not Stop For Death"

10. “Because I Could Not Stop For Death” Because I could not stop for Death – He kindly stopped for me – The Carriage held but just Ourselves – And Immortality. We slowly drove – He knew no haste And I had put away My labor and my leisure too, For His Civility – We passed the School, where Children strove At Recess – in the Ring – We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain – We passed the Setting Sun – Or rather – He passed Us – The Dews drew quivering and chill – For only Gossamer, my Gown – My Tippet – only Tulle – We paused before a House that seemed A Swelling of the Ground – The Roof was scarcely visible – The Cornice – in the Ground – Since then –‘tis Centuries – and yet Feels shorter than the Day I first surmised the Horses’ Heads Were toward Eternity –

11. What does this poem mean?