Study Notes
The poem "On Finding a Small Fly Crushed in a Book" by Charles Tennyson Turner reflects on the accidental death of a fly and uses it as a metaphor for human mortality and legacy. The speaker contemplates the beauty of the fly's preserved wings and contrasts it with the often less memorable legacies left by people.
- Caesura — a pause in a line of poetry, often marked by punctuation. Example: "Some hand, that never meant to do thee hurt, Has crushed thee here..."
- Petrarchan Sonnet — a sonnet form with an ABBA ABBA rhyme scheme in the first two quatrains. Example: The poem starts with an ABBA rhyme scheme.
- Metaphor — a figure of speech that implies a comparison between two unlike things. Example: The fly's wings are described as a "monument".
- Iambic Pentameter — a type of meter in poetry, with five iambs per line. Example: "Some hand, | that ne- | ver meant | to do | thee hurt."
- Alliteration — the repetition of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of words. Example: "leave no lustre on our page of death."
Exam Tips
Key Definitions to Remember
- Caesura: A pause in a line of poetry.
- Petrarchan Sonnet: A sonnet with an ABBA ABBA rhyme scheme.
- Metaphor: A comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'.
- Iambic Pentameter: A line of verse with five metrical feet, each consisting of one unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable.
- Alliteration: The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.
Common Confusions
- Confusing caesura with end-stopped lines.
- Mistaking the Petrarchan sonnet form for the Shakespearean sonnet form.
Typical Exam Questions
- What is the significance of the fly's wings in the poem? The wings serve as a metaphor for the legacy and beauty left behind after death.
- How does the poem's structure reflect its themes? The shifting rhyme schemes and use of caesura emphasize the unpredictability of life and death.
- What is the tone of the poem? The tone is gentle and reflective, with a sense of sad resignation.
What Examiners Usually Test
- Understanding of poetic devices like caesura and metaphor.
- Ability to analyze the poem's structure and its impact on meaning.
- Interpretation of the poem's themes and tone.