Poetry Analysis

I felt a Funeral, in my Brain

Original Poetry

Translation

I felt a Funeral, in my Brain

I felt a funeral happening in my mind, and people were moving back and forth.

Emily Dickinson

They kept walking - walking - until it seemed like understanding was breaking through.

I felt a Funeral, in my Brain, And Mourners to and fro

And when they all sat down, a ceremony, like a drum,

Kept treading - treading - till it seemed That Sense was breaking through -

Kept beating - beating - until I thought

And when they all were seated, A Service, like a Drum -

My mind was going numb.

Kept beating - beating - till I thought

And then I heard them lift a coffin and move across my soul

My mind was going numb -

With those same heavy boots, again,

And then I heard them lift a Box And creak across my Soul

Then space began to ring,

With those same Boots of Lead, again,

As if all the heavens were a bell, and existence was just an ear,

Then Space - began to toll,

And I, and silence, were a strange race, wrecked, alone, here.

As all the Heavens were a Bell, And Being, but an Ear,

And then a plank in my mind broke, and I fell down, and down -

And I, and Silence, some strange Race, Wrecked, solitary, here -

And hit a new world with every fall, and then I stopped knowing.

And then a Plank in Reason, broke, And I dropped down, and down - And hit a World, at every plunge, And Finished knowing - then -

Explanation

Emily Dickinson's poem 'I felt a Funeral, in my Brain' uses the metaphor of a funeral to explore the theme of mental anguish and the breakdown of reason. The poem begins with the speaker feeling a funeral taking place in her mind, symbolizing a loss of sanity or a deep internal struggle. The mourners' repetitive treading represents the relentless nature of her thoughts, leading to a sense of numbness. As the funeral progresses, the lifting of the coffin and the tolling of space suggest a transition from mental chaos to a profound existential realization. The imagery of the heavens as a bell and existence as an ear conveys the overwhelming nature of her experience, where she feels isolated and disconnected from reality. The breaking of a plank in reason signifies a complete collapse of rational thought, leading to a descent into an unknown realm where knowledge ceases. The poem captures Dickinson's introspective exploration of the mind's fragility and the thin line between sanity and madness.

Word Dictionary9

Word	Easy Meaning	Translation	Pron.
Funeral	a ceremony for someone who has died	a ceremony for someone who has died	fyoo-nuh-ruhl
Mourners	people who are sad about a death	people who are sad about a death	mawr-nurz
treading	walking heavily	walking heavily	tred-ing
numb	unable to feel	unable to feel	nuhm
creak	a harsh sound	a harsh sound	kreek
toll	to ring slowly	to ring slowly	tohl
solitary	alone	alone	sol-i-ter-ee
plank	a flat piece of wood	a flat piece of wood	plangk
plunge	to fall suddenly	to fall suddenly	pluhnj

Poet & Context

PoetEmily Dickinson

Era19th century

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson (1830 – 1886) was an American poet known for her unique and innovative style. Although largely unpublished during her lifetime, her work is now considered canonical. She was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, and her poetry often explores themes of nature and mortality.

View on Wikipedia

When1861

WhyThe poem was written during a period of intense creativity for Dickinson, exploring themes of madness, despair, and the irrational nature of the universe. It reflects her introspective nature and her contemplation of death and the human mind.

FormLyric poem

Themes & More

Themes

madnessisolationexistential despair

Literary devices

metaphor: the funeral represents the breakdown of the mindimagery: vivid descriptions of the funeral and the mind's collapserepetition: 'treading - treading' emphasizes the relentless nature of thoughtspersonification: space and silence are given human-like qualities

Poetry Analysis

I felt a Funeral, in my Brain

Original Poetry

Translation

I felt a Funeral, in my Brain

I felt a funeral happening in my mind, and people were moving back and forth.

Emily Dickinson

They kept walking - walking - until it seemed like understanding was breaking through.

I felt a Funeral, in my Brain, And Mourners to and fro

And when they all sat down, a ceremony, like a drum,

Kept treading - treading - till it seemed That Sense was breaking through -

Kept beating - beating - until I thought

And when they all were seated, A Service, like a Drum -

My mind was going numb.

Kept beating - beating - till I thought

And then I heard them lift a coffin and move across my soul

My mind was going numb -

With those same heavy boots, again,

And then I heard them lift a Box And creak across my Soul

Then space began to ring,

With those same Boots of Lead, again,

As if all the heavens were a bell, and existence was just an ear,

Then Space - began to toll,

And I, and silence, were a strange race, wrecked, alone, here.

As all the Heavens were a Bell, And Being, but an Ear,

And then a plank in my mind broke, and I fell down, and down -

And I, and Silence, some strange Race, Wrecked, solitary, here -

And hit a new world with every fall, and then I stopped knowing.

And then a Plank in Reason, broke, And I dropped down, and down - And hit a World, at every plunge, And Finished knowing - then -

Explanation

Word Dictionary9

Word	Easy Meaning	Translation	Pron.
Funeral	a ceremony for someone who has died	a ceremony for someone who has died	fyoo-nuh-ruhl
Mourners	people who are sad about a death	people who are sad about a death	mawr-nurz
treading	walking heavily	walking heavily	tred-ing
numb	unable to feel	unable to feel	nuhm
creak	a harsh sound	a harsh sound	kreek
toll	to ring slowly	to ring slowly	tohl
solitary	alone	alone	sol-i-ter-ee
plank	a flat piece of wood	a flat piece of wood	plangk
plunge	to fall suddenly	to fall suddenly	pluhnj

Poet & Context

PoetEmily Dickinson

Era19th century

View on Wikipedia

When1861

FormLyric poem

Themes & More

Themes

madnessisolationexistential despair

Literary devices