AP Literature - Exploring Death in Dickinson's Poetry

What is the main theme of Emily Dickinson's poem "I heard a Fly buzz—when I died—"?

• The beauty of nature

• The inevitability of death

• The joy of life

• The power of love

Which literary element is prominently used in the poem to convey the speaker's perception of death?

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Personification

• Alliteration

Which of the following best describes the tone of the poem?

• Joyful

• Melancholic

• Angry

• Excited

What is the purpose of using a fly in the poem?

• To symbolize purity

• To represent a trivial interruption

• To indicate strength

• To show beauty

What does the use of legal language in the poem suggest?

• The speaker's control over their fate

• The distribution of material possessions

• The certainty of the afterlife

• The speaker's heroic deeds

What is the poem's conclusion about death?

• It is a moment of clarity

• It is a heroic journey

• It is marked by blindness and cessation of perception

• It is a joyful celebration

What literary elements does Dickinson use to convey the speaker’s perception of death?

• Imagery and sound.

• Humor and satire.

• Dialogue and monologue.

• Action and adventure.

How does the essay connect the fly to the thesis?

• By showing the fly as a symbol of peace.

• By emphasizing the fly's role in making death ambiguous.

• By portraying the fly as a divine messenger.

• By describing the fly as a source of joy.

How does Dickinson's use of sensory imagery affect the poem's theme?

• It makes the poem more cheerful

• It creates a jarring contrast at the moment of death

• It simplifies the poem's message

• It adds humor to the poem

How does Dickinson's use of pauses and punctuation contribute to the poem?

• It creates a tone of joy and excitement

• It adds humor to the poem

• It contributes to a tone of anticipation and deflation

• It makes the poem difficult to understand