H AY L E Y V O G L E R M R S . G O TT F R I E D S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 1 E N G L I S H 3

Who is Emily Dickinson?

“A word is dead when it is said,

some say. I say it just begins to live

that day.”-Emily Dickinson

Biography

Born in 1830 in Amherst, Massachusetts, USASpent one year away from home to attend Mount

Holyoke Female Seminary (in South Hadley)Rarely left houseRarely had visitorsFriends, family, and acquaintances had large

impact on her poetry1860s: Lived in almost complete isolation from

outside world, besides letters and literature

Emily Dickinson

Family

Father: Edward Dickinson State and national politics

Mother: Emily DickinsonSister: Lavina Dickinson

Also lived in isolation Intellectual companion of Emily’s

Brother: Austin Dickinson Law school; later became an attorney Married Susan Gilbert Intellectual companion of Emily’s

Biography

On June 16, 1874, Edward Dickinson (father) suffered a stroke and died. 

Wrote that “His heart was pure and terrible and I think no other like it exists” about her father.

On June 15, 1875, (a year later) Emily's mother also suffered from a stroke but did not die.

Mournful from her mother's increasing physical as well as mental strain, Emily wrote that "Home is so far from Home".

Importance

All of Emily Dickinson’s poems had meaningful themes and lots of beautiful literary devices.

Her poems brought to light many issues and also helped readers to understand how much they took for granted

Because Emily was isolated most of her life and never had a family of her own, she had all the time in the world to write about important issues, religion, family, and the things that truly make life beautiful

Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Emily Dickenson

Because I could not stop for Death

He kindly stopped for meThe Carriage held but just OurselvesAnd Immortality.

We slowly drove, he knew no hasteAnd I had put awayMy labor and my leisure too,For his civility.

We passed the School, Where Children stroveAt recess in the ringWe passed the fields of gazing grainWe passed the setting sun.

Or rather, he passed usThe dews drew quivering and chillFor only Gossamer, my gownMy tippet only tulle.

We paused before a house that seemedA swelling of the GROUNDThe roof was scarcely visibleThe cornice in the ground.

Since then 'tis centuries and yetFeels shorter than the DAYI first surmised the horses' headsWere toward eternity

-Emily Dickinson

Meaning

Death is kind and is never truly frightening, as he was the one to pick her up when she was too buy to go to him

Death is kind and pays individual attention to her

“Immortality” is her goal, seeing as it is the only other person in the carriage

Explanation

Speaker is communicating after she has diedPersonified journey with death from life to

afterlife.Death was slow and civil, taking a long time

to “drive”“Pause” at temporary

home (grave), but only apause because it is not her final destination (heaven)

Poetic Devices

Personification: death as a humanSlant rhyme: “He kindly stopped for me”

and “immortality.”Hyperbole: “Since then- 'tis

centuries and yet, feels shorter than the Day.” (eternity)

Symbol: "We passed the Setting Sun” (where sun is her life)

Emily Dickinson

Works Cited

“Emily Dickinson.” Poets.org. Academy of American Poets. 2011. http://poets.org/. 25 Sept. 2011.

“Because I Could Not Stop for Death.” Famouspoetsandpoems.com. 2011. http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/emily_dickinson/poems/5214/. 27 Sept. 2011.

“Because I Could Not Stop for Death Analysis.” Shmoop. 2011. http://www.shmoop.com/because-i-could-not-stop-for-death/analysis.html/. 27 Sept. 2011