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Emily Dickinson's "Because I Could Not Stop for Death"

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was an American poet who lived in Amherst, Massachusetts in the 19th century. Though she lived a life of seclusion, she wrote poetry of great depth and power that questioned the concepts of immortality and death. In her poem "Because I Could Not Stop for Death," Dickinson explores these themes of mortality and immortality through the speaker's encounter with Death, who kindly stops to give the speaker a ride. During their ride, which the speaker describes in great detail, Death represents a transition into immortality rather than an end.

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26 views2 pages

Emily Dickinson's "Because I Could Not Stop for Death"

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was an American poet who lived in Amherst, Massachusetts in the 19th century. Though she lived a life of seclusion, she wrote poetry of great depth and power that questioned the concepts of immortality and death. In her poem "Because I Could Not Stop for Death," Dickinson explores these themes of mortality and immortality through the speaker's encounter with Death, who kindly stops to give the speaker a ride. During their ride, which the speaker describes in great detail, Death represents a transition into immortality rather than an end.

Uploaded by

lisette omayana
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as ODT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was an American poet.

Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts,


into a prominent family with strong ties to its community. She regarded as one of America's greatest
poets, is also well known for her unusual life of self-imposed social seclusion. Living a life of
simplicity and seclusion, she yet wrote poetry of great power; questioning the nature of immortality and
death, with at times an almost mantric quality.

Because I could not stop for Death


Emily Dickinson - 1830-1886

Because I could not stop for Death –


He kindly stopped for me –
The Carriage held but just Ourselves –
And Immortality.
We slowly drove – He knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For His Civility –
We passed the School, where Children strove
At Recess – in the Ring –
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain –
We passed the Setting Sun –
Or rather – He passed us –
The Dews drew quivering and chill –
For only Gossamer, my Gown –
My Tippet – only Tulle –
We paused before a House that seemed
A Swelling of the Ground –
The Roof was scarcely visible –
The Cornice – in the Ground –
Since then – 'tis Centuries – and yet
Feels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses' Heads
Were toward Eternity –
Two opposite themes

– Mortality and Immortality – occupy this poem. We find out that the memory of the speaker's death
day is being told centuries into the afterlife. So, in this poem, Dickinson explores the idea of perpetual
life. In this poem there is life after death, which offers an explanation as to why the speaker's so calm
about everything. Death's not the end, just one step closer to eternity.

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