QQuestionEnglish
QuestionEnglish
"Answer the following questions.
Analyze Explain how the first line of “I heard a Fly buzz – when I died –” is a paradox.
Analyze A two-word paradox, such as cruel kindness, is called an oxymoron. Identify an oxymoron in “There is a solitude of space,” and explain the apparent contradiction.
Synthesize For both poems, what explanation makes the situation possible, even though it seems impossible?"
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Answer
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Step 1: Examine the first line of "I heard a Fly buzz – when I died –"
The first line of the poem appears to be a paradox because the speaker claims to have heard a fly buzzing while they were dying. The act of dying is generally associated with the cessation of sensory perception, so it seems impossible for the speaker to hear anything at that moment.
Step 2: Explain the paradox
The paradox arises from the juxtaposition of two contrasting ideas: hearing and dying. In reality, one would not expect to hear anything while dying. However, the poet, Emily Dickinson, uses this paradox to create a surreal and thought-provoking atmosphere, drawing the reader's attention to the unusual nature of the situation.
Final Answer
The first line of "I heard a Fly buzz – when I died –" is a paradox because the speaker claims to have heard a fly buzzing while they were dying, which contradicts the general understanding that sensory perception ceases during the process of dying. Similarly, in "The Love of Space," the phrase "solitude of space" is an oxymoron, as it combines the concepts of solitude (isolation) and space (a seemingly infinite expanse filled with celestial bodies). In both instances, the paradoxes and oxymorons serve to challenge the reader's preconceived notions and provoke deeper thought about the concepts presented, creating an atmosphere of mystery and surrealism.
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