because i could not stop for death (analysis)
TRANSCRIPT
BECAUSEI COULD NOT STOP FOR DEATH
By Emily Dickinson
Anthony Nguyen Manahil Nasser
MeaningPer line read
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 hasteAnd I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,For His Civility—
We passed the School, where Children stroveAt 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 Gossamer¹, my GownMy Tippet²— only Tulle³—
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 yetFeels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses’ HeadsWere toward Eternity—
1 Gossamer:Thin, sheer
3 Tulle: Soft net fabric
2 Tippet: Short cape covering just the shoulders
Form
Type of PoemNumber of StanzaNumber of Verses
24
SpeakerThe dead person
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 hasteAnd I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,For His Civility—
We passed the School, where Children stroveAt 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 Gossamer¹, my GownMy Tippet²— only Tulle³—
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 yetFeels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses’ HeadsWere toward Eternity—
1 Gossamer:Thin, sheer
3 Tulle: Soft net fabric
2 Tippet: Short cape covering just the shoulders
SettingThe setting of the poem are several areas, because the speaker and the gentleman, Death, are going for a ride in a carriage in a town.They pass through a school, a playground full of children, a farmer’s field, and an enveloped cornice. They also pass by the “Settling Sun.” Finally, they end their journey in the graveyard.
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 hasteAnd I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,For His Civility—
We passed the School, where Children stroveAt 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 Gossamer¹, my GownMy Tippet²— only Tulle³—
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 yetFeels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses’ HeadsWere toward Eternity—
1 Gossamer:Thin, sheer
3 Tulle: Soft net fabric
2 Tippet: Short cape covering just the shoulders
Alliteration What is it?
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 hasteAnd I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,For His Civility—
We passed the School, where Children stroveAt 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 Gossamer¹, my GownMy Tippet²— only Tulle³—
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 yetFeels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses’ HeadsWere toward Eternity—
Refers to the repetition of a particular sound in the first syllables of a series of words or phrases(not always)
Can you find the one I am missing?