February 6, 2025 - English Studies

"I Felt a Funeral in My Brain" by Emily Dickinson: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “I Felt a Funeral in My Brain” by Emily Dickinson

“I Felt a Funeral in My Brain” by Emily Dickinson first appeared in 1896 in the posthumous collection Poems edited by Mabel Loomis Todd and Thomas Wentworth Higginson. This poem is a striking exploration of mental anguish, psychological collapse, and the blurred line between sanity and madness. Through the extended metaphor of a funeral, Dickinson conveys a speaker’s descent into an unknown and terrifying psychological state, illustrating themes of isolation, existential uncertainty, and the fragility of reason. The poem’s haunting imagery, rhythmic repetition, and evocative use of sound create a powerful sensory experience that reflects the speaker’s unraveling mind. Its popularity as a textbook poem stems from its rich ambiguity, profound philosophical themes, and masterful use of poetic devices, making it a staple for discussions on 19th-century American poetry, psychological depth in literature, and Dickinson’s unique stylistic innovations.

Text: “I Felt a Funeral in My Brain” by Emily Dickinson

I felt a Funeral, in my Brain,

And Mourners to and fro

Kept treading – treading – till it seemed

That Sense was breaking through –

And when they all were seated,

A Service, like a Drum –

Kept beating – beating – till I thought

My mind was going numb –

And then I heard them lift a Box

And creak across my Soul

With those same Boots of Lead, again,

Then Space – began to toll,

As all the Heavens were a Bell,

And Being, but an Ear,

And I, and Silence, some strange Race,

Wrecked, solitary, here –

And then a Plank in Reason, broke,

And I dropped down, and down –

And hit a World, at every plunge,

And Finished knowing – then –

Annotations: “I Felt a Funeral in My Brain” by Emily Dickinson

Line	Annotation
I felt a Funeral, in my Brain,	The poem begins with an unusual metaphor, likening a psychological or existential crisis to a funeral. The word “felt” suggests an internal, deeply personal experience rather than an external event.
And Mourners to and fro	The mourners represent persistent thoughts or emotions moving back and forth, indicating inner turmoil. This could symbolize repetitive, obsessive thinking or mental anguish.
Kept treading – treading – till it seemed	The repetition of “treading” mimics the relentless movement of thoughts, reinforcing a sense of overwhelming pressure on the speaker’s mind. The phrase “till it seemed” introduces uncertainty about reality.
That Sense was breaking through –	“Sense” suggests reason or clarity, which is on the verge of being overwhelmed or shattered. This hints at a mental breakdown or loss of logical thought.
And when they all were seated,	The mourners finally settle, suggesting a moment of temporary stillness before another phase of mental distress begins.
A Service, like a Drum –	The funeral service is compared to a drum, evoking a repetitive, relentless sound that symbolizes anxiety or distress. The drumbeat could represent the pounding of thoughts in the speaker’s mind.
Kept beating – beating – till I thought	The repetition of “beating” intensifies the sensation of inescapable mental torment, reinforcing the overwhelming presence of the funeral/mind’s disintegration.
My mind was going numb –	The speaker experiences numbness, possibly due to emotional exhaustion, psychological dissociation, or the overwhelming force of the mental breakdown.
And then I heard them lift a Box	“Box” refers to a coffin, suggesting the burial of something—perhaps the speaker’s sanity or understanding of reality. It may also symbolize the mind being confined or trapped.
And creak across my Soul	The coffin’s movement is described with “creak,” a sound-based image that emphasizes decay and inevitability. The soul being impacted suggests a profound existential crisis.
With those same Boots of Lead, again,	“Boots of Lead” symbolize heaviness, oppression, and grief. The phrase “again” suggests that this experience of suffering is not new but recurring.
Then Space – began to toll,	“Space” metaphorically tolls like a funeral bell, possibly indicating the vast, impersonal nature of death, emptiness, or an expanding void in the speaker’s consciousness.
As all the Heavens were a Bell,	The entire universe transforms into a resonating bell, intensifying the speaker’s auditory hallucination or overwhelming sensation. This could symbolize an inescapable existential realization.
And Being, but an Ear,	The speaker’s entire existence is reduced to passive listening, suggesting complete submission to external forces (death, madness, or an epiphany).
And I, and Silence, some strange Race,	The speaker aligns themselves with “Silence,” suggesting alienation from humanity. The phrase “some strange Race” implies an unfamiliar state of existence, possibly death or insanity.
Wrecked, solitary, here –	The speaker describes themselves as “wrecked,” reinforcing a sense of destruction or ruin. “Solitary” emphasizes loneliness, and “here” suggests being stuck in a liminal or unknown space.
And then a Plank in Reason, broke,	The phrase “Plank in Reason” suggests a final support of rationality or stability giving way. The imagery of breaking reinforces the loss of sanity or a fall into the unknown.
And I dropped down, and down –	The speaker experiences a continuous descent, which could symbolize falling into madness, death, or an existential void. The repetition emphasizes the depth of the fall.
And hit a World, at every plunge,	The speaker’s fall is punctuated by impacts, which might represent different levels of consciousness or awareness. “World” could suggest realms of thought, memory, or experience.
And Finished knowing – then –	The poem ends ambiguously. “Finished knowing” may imply the ultimate loss of awareness, possibly death or insanity. The abrupt dash leaves the resolution open-ended, reinforcing the theme of uncertainty.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “I Felt a Funeral in My Brain” by Emily Dickinson

Device	Example	Explanation
1. Alliteration	“treading – treading”	Repetition of ‘t’ sound for emphasis and rhythm.
2. Allegory	“A Funeral, in my Brain”	The funeral represents the death of the speaker’s mental faculties or sanity.
3. Anaphora	“And then… (repeated)”	Repetition of phrase at the beginning of successive clauses for emphasis and rhythm.
4. Assonance	“Brain” and “Drum”	Repetition of vowel sounds for musicality and emphasis.
5. Enjambment	“And Mourners to and fro / Kept treading – treading – till it seemed”	Sentences or phrases continue into the next line without punctuation, creating a sense of urgency and flow.
6. Hyperbole	“My mind was going numb”	Exaggeration of the speaker’s mental state to convey intense emotional pain.
7. Imagery	“A Service, like a Drum – / Kept beating – beating”	Vivid description of a sound to create a powerful sensory experience.
8. Irony	“My mind was going numb” (while experiencing intense mental activity)	Contrast between what is expected and what actually happens, highlighting the speaker’s mental turmoil.
9. Juxtaposition	“And Being, but an Ear”	Contrasting ideas placed side by side to highlight the speaker’s disconnection from the world.
10. Metaphor	“A Funeral, in my Brain”	Comparison between two unlike things to create a new understanding of the speaker’s mental state.
11. Metonymy	“Boots of Lead”	Using a material to represent a concept (weight or oppression), creating a vivid and powerful image.
12. Onomatopoeia	“Drum”	Word imitates the sound it describes, creating a sensory experience.
13. Oxymoron	“strange Race”	Combination of two contradictory words to create a sense of paradox and highlight the speaker’s disconnection.
14. Personification	“Space – began to toll”	Giving an abstract concept human-like qualities to create a sense of agency and emphasize the speaker’s emotional pain.
15. Repetition	“treading – treading”, “beating – beating”	Repetition of words or phrases for emphasis, rhythm, and to convey the speaker’s mental turmoil.
16. Rhetorical Question	Implicit question: “What happens when one’s mind breaks?”	Encourages the reader to think critically about the speaker’s mental state and the consequences of mental breakdown.
17. Simile	“A Service, like a Drum”	Comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as” to create a vivid and powerful image.
18. Symbolism	The funeral	Represents the death of the speaker’s mental faculties or sanity, highlighting the speaker’s mental turmoil.
19. Synecdoche	“Heavens”	Using a part to represent the whole (the universe), creating a sense of vastness and emphasizing the speaker’s disconnection.
20. Understatement	“I dropped down, and down”	Downplaying the severity of the speaker’s mental collapse to convey the speaker’s sense of detachment and disconnection.

Themes: “I Felt a Funeral in My Brain” by Emily Dickinson

Theme 1: Mental Breakdown and Madness: In “I Felt a Funeral in My Brain” by Emily Dickinson, the speaker’s mental state is portrayed as deteriorating, ultimately leading to a complete breakdown. The poem’s title itself sets the tone for this theme, with the funeral in the brain symbolizing the death of the speaker’s mental faculties. The speaker describes the “Mourners” in their brain, which “Kept treading – treading – till it seemed / That Sense was breaking through” (lines 3-4), indicating the overwhelming and relentless nature of their mental anguish. As the poem progresses, the speaker’s language becomes increasingly disjointed and fragmented, mirroring the disintegration of their mental state.
Theme 2: Alienation and Disconnection: The poem “I Felt a Funeral in My Brain” by Emily Dickinson explores the theme of alienation and disconnection, as the speaker feels increasingly isolated from the world around them. The speaker describes themselves as being in a state of “Solitary” existence, where “I, and Silence, some strange Race, / Wrecked” (lines 17-18), highlighting their sense of disconnection from others. The use of words like “Space” and “Heavens” also emphasizes the speaker’s feelings of vastness and emptiness, underscoring their sense of alienation.
Theme 3: Mortality and the Transience of Life: In “I Felt a Funeral in My Brain” by Emily Dickinson, the theme of mortality and the transience of life is explored through the use of funeral imagery. The poem’s title itself sets the tone for this theme, with the funeral in the brain symbolizing the death of the speaker’s mental faculties. The speaker describes the “Funeral” in their brain, where “Mourners” are present, highlighting the idea that death and mourning are inevitable aspects of life. The poem also touches on the idea of the transience of life, as the speaker describes themselves as being in a state of “Wrecked” existence, emphasizing the fleeting nature of human life.

Theme 4: The Unreliability of Perception: The poem “I Felt a Funeral in My Brain” by Emily Dickinson explores the theme of the unreliability of perception, as the speaker’s mental state is portrayed as increasingly unstable. The speaker describes their own perceptions as being distorted, where “Sense was breaking through” (line 4), highlighting the idea that their understanding of reality is fragile and susceptible to disruption. The use of imagery and metaphor also underscores the idea that perception is subjective and prone to interpretation, as the speaker describes their mental state in terms of a funeral, emphasizing the complexity and ambiguity of human experience.

Literary Theories and “I Felt a Funeral in My Brain” by Emily Dickinson

Literary Theory	Application to the Poem	References from the Poem
Psychoanalytic Theory (Freudian & Lacanian Analysis)	This theory examines the poem as an exploration of the unconscious mind, mental breakdown, and loss of self. The funeral metaphor represents the speaker’s descent into madness or psychological distress, while the rhythmic beating suggests obsessive, intrusive thoughts. The final “plunge” could symbolize a complete break from reality.	– “That Sense was breaking through -“ (Loss of rational thought) – “My mind was going numb -“ (Dissociation and psychological distress) – “And then a Plank in Reason, broke,” (Loss of mental stability)
Existentialism & Absurdism	The poem can be read as an existential crisis, where the speaker confronts the meaning (or meaninglessness) of existence. The repetitive motions and the imagery of isolation suggest an individual grappling with the vastness of the universe and the inevitability of death. The ending leaves interpretation open, reinforcing absurdist uncertainty.	– “Wrecked, solitary, here -“ (Existential isolation) – “Then Space – began to toll,” (The overwhelming vastness of existence) – “And Finished knowing – then -“ (Uncertainty about the afterlife or finality of knowledge)
Feminist Literary Criticism	From a feminist perspective, Dickinson’s poem can be seen as a critique of societal constraints on women’s mental and emotional experiences. The oppressive imagery (boots of lead, drum-like service) may symbolize the suffocating expectations imposed on women, leading to emotional repression and psychological distress. The speaker’s breakdown reflects the historical silencing of women’s voices.	– “A Service, like a Drum – Kept beating – beating -“ (Symbolic of patriarchal control over the mind) – “With those same Boots of Lead, again,” (Oppressive societal weight on women) – “And I, and Silence, some strange Race,” (Isolation, possibly referencing enforced silence on women’s suffering)
Deconstruction (Derridean Analysis)	Deconstruction explores how meaning in the poem is unstable and built on contradictions. The funeral structure suggests order, yet the poem depicts chaos and loss of control. The speaker’s understanding of reality constantly shifts, and the final unfinished line questions whether “knowing” itself is possible.	– “As all the Heavens were a Bell, And Being, but an Ear,” (Contradictory fusion of physical sensation and metaphysical experience) – “And hit a World, at every plunge,” (Reality is unstable and fragmented) – “And Finished knowing – then -“ (Ambiguity about whether knowledge is gained or lost)

Critical Questions about “I Felt a Funeral in My Brain” by Emily Dickinson

Question 1: How does the poem’s use of imagery and metaphor contribute to its exploration of mental breakdown and madness?
The poem’s use of imagery and metaphor is crucial in conveying the speaker’s mental state. The comparison of the brain to a funeral, for instance, creates a powerful and haunting image that underscores the idea of death and mourning. The “Mourners” in the brain, who “Kept treading – treading – till it seemed / That Sense was breaking through” (lines 3-4), further emphasize the relentless and overwhelming nature of the speaker’s mental anguish. The use of metaphor also allows the speaker to describe their mental state in a way that is both abstract and concrete, highlighting the complexity and ambiguity of human experience. By employing imagery and metaphor, Dickinson creates a rich and evocative language that draws the reader into the speaker’s inner world.

Question 2: What role does the speaker’s use of repetition play in conveying their mental state, and what does this repetition reveal about the speaker’s experience?
The speaker’s use of repetition is a striking feature of the poem, and it plays a crucial role in conveying their mental state. The repetition of words and phrases, such as “treading – treading” and “beating – beating”, creates a sense of rhythm and monotony that underscores the relentless and overwhelming nature of the speaker’s mental anguish. This repetition also reveals the speaker’s experience as one of obsessive and intrusive thoughts, where they are unable to escape the cycle of pain and suffering. Furthermore, the repetition creates a sense of claustrophobia and entrapment, emphasizing the speaker’s feelings of being trapped in their own mind.
Question 3: How does the poem’s structure and form contribute to its exploration of mental breakdown and madness, and what does this structure reveal about the speaker’s experience?

The poem’s structure and form are carefully crafted to convey the speaker’s mental state. The use of short, fragmented sentences and phrases creates a sense of disjointedness and dislocation, mirroring the speaker’s disintegrating mental faculties. The poem’s stanzas are also irregularly shaped, with varying line lengths and indentation, which creates a sense of disorder and chaos. This structure reveals the speaker’s experience as one of confusion, disorientation, and fragmentation, where they are struggling to maintain a sense of coherence and control.
Question 4: What does the poem suggest about the relationship between the individual and society, and how does this relationship contribute to the speaker’s mental breakdown?
The poem suggests that the individual is isolated and disconnected from society, and that this disconnection contributes to the speaker’s mental breakdown. The speaker describes themselves as being in a state of “Solitary” existence, where “I, and Silence, some strange Race, / Wrecked” (lines 17-18), emphasizing their sense of disconnection from others. The poem also implies that society is oppressive and suffocating, with the “Mourners” in the brain representing the external forces that are contributing to the speaker’s mental anguish. This relationship between the individual and society is one of alienation and disconnection, and it is this disconnection that ultimately contributes to the speaker’s mental breakdown.

Literary Works Similar to “I Felt a Funeral in My Brain” by Emily Dickinson

“The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe: This poem shares a similar atmosphere of melancholy and madness, as the speaker is haunted by a mysterious raven.
“Ode to Melancholy” by John Keats: Like Dickinson’s poem, this ode explores the complex and intense emotions of melancholy, using rich imagery and symbolism.
“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot: This modernist masterpiece shares a similar sense of alienation and disconnection, as the speaker navigates a fragmented and chaotic world.

“Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas: This villanelle explores a similar theme of mortality and the struggle against death, using powerful imagery and repetition.
“Lady Lazarus” by Sylvia Plath: This confessional poem shares a similar sense of intense emotional pain and mental anguish, as the speaker explores themes of identity, mortality, and madness.

Representative Quotations of “I Felt a Funeral in My Brain” by Emily Dickinson

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
1. “I felt a Funeral, in my Brain”	The speaker describes a funeral in their brain, setting the tone for the rest of the poem.	Symbolism: The funeral represents the death of the speaker’s mental faculties.
2. “And Mourners to and fro / Kept treading – treading – till it seemed”	The speaker describes the mourners in their brain, emphasizing the relentless and overwhelming nature of their mental anguish.	Imagery: The use of sensory details creates a vivid picture of the speaker’s mental state.
3. “That Sense was breaking through”	The speaker suggests that their mental faculties are disintegrating.	Psychoanalytic Theory: The speaker’s mental breakdown may be a result of repressed emotions or unconscious conflicts.
4. “A Service, like a Drum – / Kept beating – beating – till I thought”	The speaker compares the service in their brain to a drum, emphasizing the relentless and oppressive nature of their mental anguish.	Metaphor: The comparison between the service and the drum creates a powerful and evocative image.
5. “My mind was going numb”	The speaker describes the numbness and disconnection they feel as a result of their mental anguish.	Existentialist Theory: The speaker’s experience of numbness and disconnection may be a result of the absurdity and uncertainty of life.
6. “And then I heard them lift a Box”	The speaker describes the mourners lifting a box, which may represent the speaker’s own coffin or the coffin of their mental faculties.	Symbolism: The box may represent the speaker’s own mortality or the death of their mental faculties.
7. “And creak across my Soul”	The speaker describes the mourners crossing over their soul, emphasizing the invasive and oppressive nature of their mental anguish.	Imagery: The use of sensory details creates a vivid picture of the speaker’s mental state.
8. “With those same Boots of Lead, again”	The speaker describes the mourners wearing boots of lead, which may represent the weight and oppression of their mental anguish.	Metaphor: The comparison between the boots and lead creates a powerful and evocative image.
9. “Then Space – began to toll”	The speaker describes space itself beginning to toll, emphasizing the vastness and emptiness of their mental state.	Imagery: The use of sensory details creates a vivid picture of the speaker’s mental state.
10. “And I, and Silence, some strange Race, / Wrecked”	The speaker describes themselves as being wrecked, emphasizing their sense of disconnection and alienation.	Existentialist Theory: The speaker’s experience of disconnection and alienation may be a result of the absurdity and uncertainty of life.

Day: February 6, 2025

“I Felt a Funeral in My Brain” by Emily Dickinson: A Critical Analysis