I heard a Fly buzz—when I died— Group

Question:

eirikwarwick
eirikwarwick
Student
College - Sophomore

What does the "With Blue-" part of the first line in the 4th stanza mean or have to do with the "uncertain stumbling Buzz-"?

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Posted by eirikwarwick on Wednesday November 12, 2008 at 8:02 AM and tagged with i heard a fly buzz—when i died—, quote, stanza 4, with blue.

Answers:


  1. ms-mcgregor Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The word "Blue" gives us an indication of the type of fly she heard. Blowflies in New England are typically blue. They are hated because after the female lays about 150-200 eggs, they hatch into maggots. So instead of hearing heavenly music, all the speaker hears in the noise of a blowfly, one that has probably come to lay her eggs on her corpse. It's a nauseating feeling and reinforces the loneliness and sadness of death.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/heard-fly-buzz-when-died/
    http://www.no-pest.com/Blowfly.htm

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    Posted by ms-mcgregor on Wednesday November 12, 2008 at 9:11 AM