On Finding a Small Fly Crushed in a Book Flashcards
(11 cards)
What is the form of On Finding a Small Fly Crushed in a Book?
The poem consists of 14 lines and is written in sonnet form.
Why is the sonnet form significant in this poem?
Sonnets are traditionally used to express love or reverence, so using it elevates the fly and gives its death unexpected importance.
What metre is used in On Finding a Small Fly Crushed in a Book?
The poem is written in regular iambic pentameter.
How does the iambic pentameter reflect the theme of death?
The steady, measured rhythm mirrors the inevitable and inescapable progression toward death.
Where is the volta in the poem, and what is its effect?
The volta appears in line 8: ‘our doom is ever near.’ It shifts the focus from the crushed fly to the speaker’s realisation of their own mortality.
How does the poem use the metaphor of a book?
The ‘page of death’ symbolises the fear of dying without leaving a legacy, just as the fly is caught between the pages of a book.
What does the metaphor of the fly’s wings as ‘relics’ and a ‘fair monument’ suggest?
The poet uses grand and reverent language to show how even the smallest life can leave behind something valuable—its legacy.
What do the words ‘relics’ and ‘monument’ imply?
‘Relics’ has religious connotations, while ‘monument’ implies something worthy of remembrance and honour, reinforcing the idea of legacy.
What theme is reinforced by the final couplet, ‘breath’ and ‘death’?
The inevitability of death — the couplet highlights the abruptness and finality of mortality.
Why does Turner end the poem with the word ‘death’?
To emphasise the inescapable and conclusive nature of death, bringing the meditation on mortality to a stark close.
What central theme is explored through the crushed fly in the poem?
Legacy — the fly’s wings become a lasting, almost sacred reminder, suggesting the value of leaving something meaningful behind.
