Summary Poem Analysis of 'Because I could not stop for Death' by Emily Dickinson
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Course
Poetry
Institution
CIE
Here’s a full analysis of the poem ‘Because I could not stop for Death’ by Emily Dickinson, tailored towards A-Level students but also suitable for those studying at a higher level. Enjoy and feel free to leave feedback if you found it useful!
Includes:
POEM
VOCABULARY
STORY / SUMMARY...
Because I could not stop for Death -
Emily Dickinson
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 –
, VOCABULARY
Kindly - nicely, using kindness or being cordial - a phrase used to express social
behaviours and gratitude
Carriage - an enclosed space with wheels, pulled by a horse - the way that people
used to transport themselves around before cars were invented - each carriage
would be an enclosed cabin with doors and curtained windows, and a seat for the
driver outside with horses pulling upfront
But just - only
Immortality - living forever
Haste - rushing, hurrying
Labor - work
Leisure - fun or play
Civility - kindness, but also being civil - being polite and formal, in keeping with
social rules
Strove - tried hard
Recess - break time in a school
In the Ring - arranged into a ring, in this case, the children’s game involves them
being in a circle (see the context for more info)
Grain - wheat
Dews - drops of water formed by condensation, a process that happens at sunrise
and sunset
Drew - came closer, drew nearer
Quivering - moving up and down, trembling or shivering
Gossamer - an expensive, fine silk material - is often the word used to describe
delicate spiders’ cobwebs
Tippet - a shawl covering, sometimes with a hood
Tulle - a thin netted material, such as the material of ‘tutu’ skirts that ballerinas wear
Scarcely - barely
Cornice - the edged pattern on a ceiling
Visible - possible to see
‘Tis Centuries - it has been centuries, hundreds of years have passed
Surmised - figured out, realised
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