( Literary Analysis by Arya Alborzi Pour )
Form : This poem is consisted of five quatrains .
Rhyme Pattern : It follows the sequence of - a b c b d e f e g h I h j k l k m n o p -
An extended visual-Imagery can be found throughout this poem due to the fact that a funeral service can be pictured in mind while reading this poem.
I felt a funeral in my brain, And mourners, to and fro,
Kept treading, treading, till it seemed That sense was breaking through. 4
Alliteration : The words "felt" & "funeral" ( line 1) and "treading" , "treading" & "till" (line 3) suggest that there's alliteration of /f/ & /s/ in this stanza.
Imagery: The word "treading" can be considered as a kinesthetic-imagery and also at the same time it can be mentioned as a auditory imagery .
Rhyming words are "fro" & "through" .
And when they all were seated, A service like a drum
Kept beating, beating, till I thought My mind was going numb. 8
Alliteration : The words "when" & "were" ( line 5) , "beating" & "beating" (line 7) and "Mind" & "My" ( line 8 ) indicate the alliteration of /w/ , /b/ & /m/ in this stanza .
Imagery : The words "drum" & "beating" are considered to form an auditory Imagery .
And then I heard them lift a box, And creak across my soul
With those same boots of lead, Then space began to toll 12
Imagery : In this stanza , The words "heard" , "creak" and "toll" indicate a auditory Imagery.
Rhyming words "soul" & "toll" .
As all the heavens were a bell, And Being but an ear,
And I and silence some strange race, Wrecked, solitary, here. 16
Alliteration : The words "being" & "but" (line 14) and "silence" , "strange" &