I felt a Funeral, in my Brain: Poet & Context

Emily Dickinson: “I felt a Funeral, in my Brain” - Poet & Context

Emily Dickinson, one of America’s greatest poets, lived from 1830 to 1886 in Amherst, Massachusetts, a small farming village.
Despite living during the era of American Romanticism, Dickinson wasn’t discovered until after her death. Her work therefore did not conform to the typical Romantic ideals.
Dickinson lived much of her life in reclusive isolation. Considering the psychological depth of her poetry, some believe this seclusion gave her works a unique perspective on the human condition.
Dickinson’s poems, including “I felt a Funeral, in my Brain”, often explore themes related to death and immortality. Many consider this to be influenced by her upbringing in a puritan New England community.
Unlike many poets of her time, Dickinson didn’t title her poems. Thus, the first line of each poem is commonly used as their title for identification purposes.
Her unique poetic style is marked by unconventional punctuation, predominantly em dashes and exclamation points, which contribute to the overall rhythm and tone of her poems.
“I felt a Funeral, in my Brain” is believed to be written during Dickinson’s ‘crisis’ years (c. 1861 - 1865), a period of great creativity but also severe personal stress and trauma, when her fear of death was most pronounced.

‘Crisis’ years: This marked a period where Dickinson suffered personal loss and declining health, which greatly influenced the content and themes of her poetry.
Punctuation Use: Dickinson’s unique use of punctuation like em dashes and exclamation points is a key feature of her poetry, used to create dramatic effect and influence rhythm.
Death and Immortality: Recurring themes in her work, likely influenced by her upbringing in a religious community and personal experiences.
Reclusive Isolation: Dickinson’s isolated lifestyle had a significant impact on her perspective, and this is often reflected in the psychological depth of her poems.