Because I could not stop for Death

Stanza 1
1. Because I could not stop for Death
  1. Capitalised 'D' on 'Death - gives death importance, dominance, seems almost threatening, personifies it
2. He kindly stopped for me -
  1. 'He' - personifying death, giving it human features
  2. 'Kindly' - building a persona/personality to death like a human being, chivalrous, gentlemanly
3. The Carriage held but just ourselves -
  1. 'Carriage' - Fairytale connotations? Dreamlike?
4. And Immortality.
Stanza 2
1. We slowly drove - He knew no haste
  1. 'We' - personal pronoun, inclusive, togetherness
  2. 'Slowly' - Careful, in no rush,
2. And I had put away
3. My labor and my leisure too
4. For his Civility -
  1. 'He' is Civil, polite, gentlemanly, appropriate - continues to build up a personality for death similarly to a human being
Stanza 3
1. We passed the School, where Children strove
  1. 'The School' - Not just any school, THE School - passing memories of her childhood? Her School life?
  2. 'Children' - connotes innocence, purity, delicacy
2. At Recess - in the Ring -
  1. 'Ring' - negative connotations, fighting - bullying? Maybe shes reflecting on her childhood as being tough?
3. We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain -
  1. Cycle of life - 'Grain' - Grows > Harvested (Cut Down) > Regrows
4. We passed the Setting Sun -
  1. 'Setting Sun' - End of the day, Completion? Her life is coming to an end?
Stanza 4
1. Or rather - He passed us -
  1. Sun overtakes her - Abrupt shift in mood, she is stationary, not going anywhere, not moving
  2. Moment of realisation that it is the end, accepting? or not?
2. The Dews drew quivering and chill -
  1. 'Quivering and Chill' - Cold external environment, negative connotations
3. For only Gossamer, my Gown -
4. My Tippet - only Tulle -
Stanza 5
1. We paused before a House that seemed
  1. 'House' - More gentle way of saying 'Grave', houses often connote safety, stability
2. A Swelling of the Ground -
  1. 'Swelling' - generally negative connotations - pain, suffering
3. The Roof was scarcely visible -
4. The Cornice - in the Ground -
  1. More brutal image - contradictory to the 'House' image
  2. Matter of fact about death
Stanza 6
1. Since then - 'tis Centuries - and yet
2. Feels shorter than the Day
  1. Time has gone quickly for her, life has continued without her
  2. She is lay in her Grave with no duties
3. I first surmised the Horses' Heads
  1. 'Horses' relating with 'Carriage - Fairytale, dreamlike aspect? Prince charming? - Death as a gentleman figure?
4. Were toward Eternity
  1. She accepted the fact she was being taken away by death the moment she saw the Horses
METRE
1. Iambic metre: Unstressed, Stressed
  1. Stanza 4
    1. Jarred metre: 3 Stressed, 4 Stressed, 4 Stressed, 3 Stressed
    2. Change in tone/mood
    3. From sentimental --> dark/eeiry
    4. Disjointed metre = Disjointed meaning?
RHYTHM
1. Stanza's 1, 2 & 6 see a HALF RHYME on lines 2 and 4
  1. Half Rhymes = uncertainty, unconrolled, fragmented, unconfident, uncomfortable
2. Rhythm changes in Stanza 4 (See Metre)
PUNCTUATION
1. Dashes
  1. Frequently used - suggests no escape/relief from her reality, perhaps she is taking her time as there is *no rush* - used to 'drag the poem out'? - She is able to appreciate whats happening to her?
  2. Poem ends on a dash after the term 'Eternity' - ongoing? continuous life after death? immortal?
2. Full stop
  1. Use of a full stop once throughout the entire poem at the end of stanza 1
    1. Creates closure to that section of her life - she is able to move on from that part perhaps?
3. Enjambment
  1. Quickens the pace
  2. Rushed? Unthought out?
JOURNEY
1. Life > Death
2. Innocence > Experience/Understanding
  1. 'Death' led the way and prepared her for her life after death

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Because I could not stop for Death

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	Created by Hannah Saks almost 12 years ago