Analysis of Because I Could Not Stop for Death Essay

Emily Dickinson is one of the most important American poets of the 1800s. Dickinson, who was known to be quite the recluse, lived and died in the town of Amherst, Massachusetts, spending the majority of her days alone in her room writing poetry. What few friends she did have would testify that Dickinson was a rather introverted and melancholy person, which shows in a number of her poems where regular themes include death and mortality. One such poem that exemplifies her â€Å"dark side† is, â€Å"Because I Could Not Stop for Death†. In this piece, Dickinson tells the story of a soul’s transition into the afterlife showing that time and death have outright power over our lives and can make what was once significant become meaningless. While we now†¦show more content†¦Our entire existence is constrained by time, not even allowing us the right of determining how or when our mortal lives draw to a close. The ensuing line states, â€Å"He kindly stopped for me† (Line 2). From this, the reader could possibly deduce that the narrator was glad to see death. Dickinson was known throughout her life to have been oddly fascinated with death and immortality, so it’s not out of the question to assume that this fascination was reflected in the narrator’s personality and was why death was welcomed. However, a more likely conclusion is that Dickinson was merely being ironic. Death is ominous as it is a leap into the unknown; we simply cannot fathom the eternity of afterlife. Taking us without consent from our lives (which we already have no power over), and thrusting us into an incomprehensible eternity is not exactly a kind act to commit, thus irony was used in this case. This further strengthens the idea that our lives are out of our control because with or without consent, death will choose to take a life whenever he pleases. The first stanza concludes by stating, â€Å"The carriage held but just ourselves/And Immortalityà ¢â‚¬  (Lines 3-4). These lines are used to acknowledge that there is a difference between death and time, because while they work in unison they still are not one and the same. Time has control over our lives during both mortality andShow MoreRelatedAnalysis of Because I Could Not Stop for Death2013 Words   |  9 PagesAnalysis of Because I Could Not Stop for Death The poets of the nineteenth century wrote on a variety of topics. One often used topic is that of death. The theme of death has been approached in many different ways. Emily Dickinson is one of the numerous poets who uses death as the subject of several of her poems. In her poem Because I Could Not Stop for Death, death is portrayed as a gentleman who comes to give the speaker a ride to eternity. Throughout the poem, Dickinson develops herRead MoreAnalysis Of Because I Could Not Stop For Death963 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Because I Could Not Stop For Death,† and â€Å"The Bustle in a House† are two poems by Emily Dickinson that portray death in very different ways. â€Å" Because I Could Not Stop For Death† is written from the perspective of a woman who has recently died about her eternal journey with a kind Death. â€Å"The Bustle in a House,† on the other hand, is about how one reacts to the death of a loved one. Through these two poems, Dickinson employs literary devices such as personification and metaphor to portray two differentRead MoreAnalysis Of `` Because I Could Not Stop For Death ``870 Words   |  4 PagesThemes of death all ring loud and clear in Dickinson’s â€Å"Because I could not stop for Death†, Donne’s â€Å"Death, be not proud†, and Cherry’s â€Å"Alzheimer’sâ⠂¬ . The poems are not explicitly about the act of dying, but death is personified or even foreshadowed in the work. Each piece has a different tone when referencing Death. Two of the poems reference Death by name, the last poem doesn’t specifically speak about dying or death per se, but based on the title, â€Å"Alzheimer’s†, it is clear that death is imminentRead MoreBecause I Could Not Stop for Death Analysis Essay1972 Words   |  8 Pagesâ€Å"Because I Could Not Stop For Death† Analysis The poem, â€Å"Because I Could Not Stop For Death,† by Emily Dickinson presents captivating themes on the cycle of life, time, and death. The first two lines, â€Å"Because I could not stop for death - / He kindly stopped for me – â€Å" (Dickinson 679; Stanza 1, Line 1 2), capture the poem’s central theme, but the interpretations of that theme vary widely. This variation would have to do with how one would interpret Death. The three variedRead MoreBecause I Could Not Stop For Death Literary Analysis918 Words   |  4 Pagesand a positive subject, death, on the other hand, has numerous definitions between each person. Some people consider death to be morbid, horrifying, and a negative thing, whereas others celebrate death and believe that their soul will live forever. Each of the countless observations of life and death are portrayed in diverse types of literature. One contributor and writer of such literature includes Emily Dickinson. In her poems â€Å"Because I Could Not Stop for Death† and â€Å"I Felt a Funeral in My Brain†Read More Analysis of Emily Dickinsons Because I Could Not Stop for Death803 Words   |  4 PagesAnalysis of Emily Dickinsons Because I Could Not Stop for Death In regard to Emily Dickinson’s poem, â€Å"Because I Could Not Stop for Death,† Critic Eunice Glenn says: â€Å"In the first two lines Death, personified as a carriage driver, stops for one who could not stop for him. The word ‘kindly’ is particularly meaningful, for it instantly characterizes Death. This comes with surprise, too, since death is more often considered grim and terrible† (Glenn). Critic Charles R. Anderson says, â€Å"DeathRead More Analysis of Emily Dickinsons Poem, Because I could not stop for Death693 Words   |  3 PagesAnalysis of Emily Dickinsons Poem, Because I could not stop for Death The poem Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Emily Dickinson expresses the speakers reflection on death. The poem focuses on the concept of life after death. This poems setting mirrors the circumstances by which death approaches, and death appears kind and compassionate. It is through the promise of immortality that fear is removed, and death not only becomes acceptable, but welcomed as well. As human beings,Read More An Analysis of Emily Dickinsons Poem, Because I Could Not Stop for Death626 Words   |  3 PagesIn the poem â€Å"Because I could not stop for Death† by Emily Dickinson refers to death as a gentlemen who unexpectedly visits Dickinson to take her on a journey â€Å"towards eternity† (I. 24). It is very ironic that she considers death as a gentleman, but as we all know it is the total opposite. On the second stanza they both start the slow and peaceful journey. â€Å"We slowly drove, he knew no haste† (I. 5). We can see the tranquility of the scene in which they are. Dickinson here understands the seriousnessRead MoreAnalysis Of The Article Death And Dying By Matthew Arnold And Because I Could Not Stop For Death977 Words   |  4 PagesIn the article â€Å"Death and Dying in Literature,† John Skelton stated, â€Å"One of the central tasks of literature is to impose a structure on life and death, giving meaning to both† ( n.p.). Many literary works, including poems, focus on death in one way or another. This is true for â€Å"Dover Beach† by Matthew Arnold and â€Å"Because I could not stop for Death† by Emily Dickinson. â€Å"Dover Beach† and â€Å"Because I could not stop for Death† provide varying perspectives on the topic of death. In â€Å"Dover Beach,† ArnoldRead More Analysis of I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died and Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Emily Dickinson593 Words   |  3 PagesAnalysis of I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died and Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Emily Dickinson Emily Dickinson wrote many poems in her lifetime. She writes two of my favorite poems. They are: ?I heard a Fly buzz when I died? and ?Because I could not stop for Death?. They both have similarities and differences from each other. There are similarities in these two poems such as the theme and the observentness of the narrator. Both of the poems themes involve death. In ?I heard