On Finding a Small Fly Crushed
In a Book
Discuss the theme of life & death as brought out in, On Finding a Small Fly
Crushed in a Book, by Charles Tennyson Turner.
The poem On Finding a Small Fly Crushed In a Book by Charles Tennyson Turner
illustrates the themes of life and death, how it is inevitable but also how it can be
beautiful and peaceful. Turner uses enjambment, metaphors and similies to create
a comparison between human life and death, and a fly's life and death.
The poet explores the idea that death is inevitable and unpredictable through the
fly's narrative and memorial it ft behind. The poet uses language to portray this,
the word “meant!” from “never meant to do thee hurt” implies that it was
unintentional, ergo inevitable and unpredictable. Turner also uses the idea that
danger follows us every day, “The peril is beside us day by day”. This reinforces
the idea that death can not be controlled and or delayed, as many times death is
unexpected and shocking.
The word “Just” from “Just as we lift ourselves to soar away” implies that death is
unforeseen because “Just” means something recent and unanticipated. When the
fly got crushed in the book the speaker felt guilty as it was unexpected, the
respect the speaker gives to the fly by admiring its death as even if she had seen
It before she closed the book it was inevitable that it would have died.
Turner notices that death can be a beautiful and peaceful thing because of the
hardworking life before. After the fly is crushed the speaker realizes that she will
not be remembered as dearly as the fly was, “Oh! that the... of thine!” this
suggests that the memories the speaker made were not merely as important or
worthy as the wings of the fly. This phrase is exaggerated with the use of similies,
as it compares the memories to the wings. The "!” on the “on” grabs the reader's
attention and creates a connection with them. “But thou has left this fair
monument", a monument is made to commemorate someone and shows the
speakers respect for the fly. This shows that even though the fly died it left
something beautiful behind as a relic.
On Finding a Small Fly Crushed In a Book 1
In a Book
Discuss the theme of life & death as brought out in, On Finding a Small Fly
Crushed in a Book, by Charles Tennyson Turner.
The poem On Finding a Small Fly Crushed In a Book by Charles Tennyson Turner
illustrates the themes of life and death, how it is inevitable but also how it can be
beautiful and peaceful. Turner uses enjambment, metaphors and similies to create
a comparison between human life and death, and a fly's life and death.
The poet explores the idea that death is inevitable and unpredictable through the
fly's narrative and memorial it ft behind. The poet uses language to portray this,
the word “meant!” from “never meant to do thee hurt” implies that it was
unintentional, ergo inevitable and unpredictable. Turner also uses the idea that
danger follows us every day, “The peril is beside us day by day”. This reinforces
the idea that death can not be controlled and or delayed, as many times death is
unexpected and shocking.
The word “Just” from “Just as we lift ourselves to soar away” implies that death is
unforeseen because “Just” means something recent and unanticipated. When the
fly got crushed in the book the speaker felt guilty as it was unexpected, the
respect the speaker gives to the fly by admiring its death as even if she had seen
It before she closed the book it was inevitable that it would have died.
Turner notices that death can be a beautiful and peaceful thing because of the
hardworking life before. After the fly is crushed the speaker realizes that she will
not be remembered as dearly as the fly was, “Oh! that the... of thine!” this
suggests that the memories the speaker made were not merely as important or
worthy as the wings of the fly. This phrase is exaggerated with the use of similies,
as it compares the memories to the wings. The "!” on the “on” grabs the reader's
attention and creates a connection with them. “But thou has left this fair
monument", a monument is made to commemorate someone and shows the
speakers respect for the fly. This shows that even though the fly died it left
something beautiful behind as a relic.
On Finding a Small Fly Crushed In a Book 1
