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?