I heard a Fly buzz – when I died –”
-- Speaker (Line 1)

Importance: This line introduces “I heard a Fly buzz – when I died.” It is significant because it is not only the opening line of the poem, but is also the title, as all of Dickinson’s poems were originally untitled and are instead referred to by their first lines. This line tells us the speaker is deceased, while suggesting the poem to follow will be about the speaker’s recollections of her last moments of life.

The Eyes around – had wrung them dry - / And Breaths were gathering firm”
-- Speaker (Lines 5 – 6)

Importance: In these lines, Dickinson uses synecdoche to introduce the mourners by using their eyes and breaths as substitutions for the people themselves. Dickinson directs our attention to the mourners’ dried-out eyes and held breaths, suggesting their sadness and tension. Notably, these are also the first two lines of the only stanza that does not...