Poetry

Consider the following possibilities : Is Dickinson`s primary intent in this poem to give expression to the hope for immortality or to describe the experience of living with the knowledge of death ? Do you have another interpretation of the poet`s purpose ? Support your idea with references to the poem . What is your response to the poem`s central theme

Dickinson 's primary intent is not either hope for immortality or the experience of living with the knowledge of death . Both are traditional interpretations of Because Death Could Not Stop for Me ' but certainly

not the only two possible ones . Death is described by Dickinson as an unintelligent betrayer . His kindness ' and civility ' and supposed immorality are just illusions to make the narrator and every living person go quietly with death . Dickinson did not write for an audience . She was not trying to inspire or educate After experiencing the death of several people close to her , Dickinson was grieving , angry , and confused . The narrator of the poem was not prepared for death . In line 15 - 16 , For only gossamer my gown / My tippet only tulle ' the narrator was not dressed , wearing only underclothes or night gown , when death came for her

What many critics may not consider is that Dickinson was intelligent and obviously very witty . It is possible that Dickinson wrote this poem in a sarcastic mood , and the result was meant to be a humorous attack on death . The nonchalant nature of the first two lines which read Because I could not stop for Death / He kindly stopped for me ' is funny . If the first two lines are allowed to set the tone of the rest of the poem , the meaning of the poem is completely different . We slowly drove / he knew no haste ' in stanza two , describing death as lazy . The narrator obliges death by giving up her labor ' and leisure ' even though all he really has to offer is his civility They encounter several things that the narrator means note of children strove ' fields of gazing grain ' and setting sun ' Only the narrator notices them because death is too slow and inattentive to care or know what he is missing . This is the reason the narrator must surmise ' or guess about eternity in the final stanza

Death is a tool used by a higher power to do it 's bidding and he offers no knowledge or hope about what occurs after death . There is absolutely no mention or tone of hope or optimism about the future . The narrator simples knows it is the end of her life and resigns herself to death

One critic has identified the tone of the poem as `sad thoughtfulness languor , and repressed terror .` What passages do you think led to this evaluation ? What other words would you use to describe the tone

Sad thoughtfulness can be found in stanza 2 and the beginning of stanza 3 . The narrator describes several things while traveling with death - children playing , field of grain , and the sunset...