Because I could not stop for Death--

26th February 2014

And she’s talking about Death…again!

Have you heard the one about the Englishman, the Irishman, Death and the 1860s poet?

EXAM DETAILS

• Friday 16th May 2014 AM• 2 hours• One hour – Dorian Gray• One hour – Emily Dickinson• CLOSED BOOK (No texts) so LEARN THE

POEMS!

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 awayMy 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 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 yetFeels shorter than the DayI first surmised the Horses' Heads Were toward Eternity—

Consider these versions…

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTcgZ4uetiY

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDOfwqqtGE8

Because I could not stop for Death--He kindly stopped for me-- The Carriage held but just Ourselves-- And Immortality.

The start here almost sounds as if we are joining in the middle of a conversation. It is far more ‘active’ than many of Dickinson’s poems.

As in other poems, Death is capitalised but here she is creating a character – ‘a gentleman caller’.

This carries the suggestion that we do not choose when we die.

There is an acceptance of death – it is not something to be feared.

Notice how she capitalises the Carriage, Ourselves and Immortality. Why might those be important? Immortality might suggest there is life after death?

We slowly drove--He knew no hasteAnd I had put awayMy labor and my leisure too,For His Civility--

The poem moves from ‘We’ – Emily and Death - to ‘He’ – Death himself who controls the journey. The slow pace perhaps creates a sense of suspense but also reinforces the relaxed, fearless mood of her relationship with Death.

Does this suggest she has done it because Death is so charming or simply that she has replaced work etc with Death’s company?

Just as Death is relaxed so she has put worldly cares – work and leisure - to one side to be with him.

We passed the School, where Children stroveAt Recess--in the Ring-- We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain-- We passed the Setting Sun--

She suggests that the view is very normal – what she sees contrasts with the strangeness of the journey. Perhaps the sight of children suggests the start of life.

Note the repetition (anaphora) of ‘We passed’ – as she repeated ‘Far safer…’ in “One need not be a chamber…”. This repetition may echo the horses’ hooves.

‘Gazing’ suggests an element of personification – perhaps the heads of grain shake at their passing.

The ‘setting sun’ may suggest not only the end of the day but also the end of life.

Or rather--He passed us--The Dews drew quivering and chill--For only Gossamer, my Gown--My Tippet--only Tulle--

Perhaps the sun is passing as the day (life?) moves on but it may also suggest that she is left in cold and darkness. The sun now is also personified. We have moved from the cheery school and fields to an eerie mood.

The evening dew has set in creating a real chill in her – a regular image associated with death. She is particularly chilled because…

…Her clothes are thin and silky (gossamer and tulle). Her tippet is a thin shawl.

The fact that these are so thin adds to the feeling that she is underprepared – Death has dictated this journey, not her.

We paused before a House that seemedA Swelling of the Ground--The Roof was scarcely visible--The Cornice--in the Ground--

Death has taken her to her grave but the fact she refers to it as a house gives it a sense of comfort. It is not cold and threatening as a grave or tomb would be.

If there is any doubt that she is referring to a grave this settles it. A new grave tends to look just like this.

She suggests that although she cannot really see it she knows exactly what it is but…

…as before, there is little fear here. She is not afraid of Death himself and she sees her tomb simply as a house.

Since then--'tis Centuries--and yetFeels shorter than the DayI first surmised the Horses' Heads Were toward Eternity—

Suddenly we realise this is not something that is happening now – it is something that happened a long time ago. Who then, is the voice of the poem?

A bit of a cliché – it feels just like yesterday. It stresses how vivid her memory seems.

This is the first mention of the horses – although people in Dickinson’s time may well have expected a carriage to be pulled by horses.

The horses point towards eternity – is that eternal life or just another term for death? Does the final dash leave that as open ended – we just drift onwards?

Summary

• Although she is focused on Death, this does not seem to be Dickinson’s own experience. Rather, she is adopting the voice of another person.

• Do we know she is dead from the start or do we see the poem as a journey from life to death?

• What impression do we get of Death?• What sense of spirituality is there in the poem?

THEMES

How can you link this poem to others? Things to consider:DeathThe afterlifeHow do the feelings here contrast with those in “It was not Death”, “One need not be a chamber” or even “I felt a funeral in my brain”? Think about the imagery she uses in each.