I felt a Funeral, in my Brain: Themes & Linking Poems

Themes

Death and Dying: Dickinson explores death as a process, not as an event. The funeral in the poem symbolises the demise of the speaker’s sanity, and it is a recurring theme in Dickinson’s work.
Mental and Emotional Collapse: The chaos and confusion of the mind are central to the poem. The disturbance is so severe that it feels like a ‘funeral in the brain’ with incessant beating of the drum leading to a sense of numbness.
Isolation: The speaker feels cut off from reality and is alone in her mental turmoil. This isolation contributes to the senselessness she feels.
Reality and Perception: Dickinson questions the nature of reality in the face of mental disarray. The feeling of a funeral within the brain blurs lines between the internal and external worlds.

Linking Poems

‘Because I could not stop for Death’: This poem ties in thematically with the subject of mortality and the constant presence of death.
‘I heard a Fly buzz - when I died’: Another poem that explores the theme of death and the reality of dying. It may serve as a thematic counterpart to ‘I felt a Funeral, in my Brain.’
‘The Soul selects her own Society’: Here, Dickinson also examines isolation and self-imposed exile, relating to the isolation felt in ‘I felt a Funeral, in my Brain.’
‘It was not Death, for I stood up’: This poem can be connected to the exploration of mental and emotional turmoil and the blurred lines between life and death.

Key Vocabulary

Funeral: A key symbol denoting the end or death, here it is used to show mental and emotional collapse.
Brain: Suggestive of the mind or one’s mental state, referring to internal feelings and thoughts.
Solemnity: A term evoking serious and sombre emotions, often connected to death and funerals.
Drum: A metaphorical representation of the insistent, throbbing headache or potentially the rhythm of despair the speaker feels.
Silence: Represents the absence of meaningful connection, leading to the speaker’s isolation.
Space: A possible personification of the speaker’s sanity or self breaking apart completely.

Each of these themes, poems, and vocabulary contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the poem, and recognising these connections will be key to understanding Dickinson’s message and style.