Poetry Explication Paper: Final Draft

     For this assignment, we had to write about the use of literary devices in poetry. I chose to write about the use of literary devices in "Because I Could Not Stop for Death" by Emily Dickinson. I used credible sources to support my points. My intended audiences were my peers and my instructor. 

Jesus Arevalo Merino

Deana Nall

English Composition II

05 April 2021

The Use of Literary Devices in “Because I Could Not Stop for Death”

The poem “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” by Emily Dickinson is considered to be one of the most mysterious pieces of literature in history (Encle 72-75). The poem was published in 1890 after Dickinson’s death in 1886. She never consented to her work to be published and no one knows whether the poem was finished or a work in progress. In the poem, Dickinson describes death as a kind gentleman who takes her on an endless carriage ride. The poem has been subject to many conflicting interpretations; however, the use of literary devices in “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” is very evident.

One of the most noticeable literary devices present in this poem is symbolism. Symbolism happens when we use symbols to represent an idea or convey a message. An example of symbolism in this poem is the House. Many writers who have analyzed the poem often argue that the house described in “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” is actually a stone burial vault. Above-ground burial vaults were very common when Dickinson was alive; many of these vaults can still be seen in New England today. Their structure is very similar to the structure of the house described in the poem. When Dickinson said “a House that seemed A Swelling of the Ground” (Dickinson 713-714), she was most likely referring to the grass that covered the whole structure of the above-ground burial vault (Abbott 212-213). Another example of symbolism is death. The same writers who argue the house represents a stone burial vault also believe that death symbolizes a funeral director in this poem. Funeral directors are kind, courteous, and know exactly what words and tone to use in moments of grief. When Dickinson uses the phrase “I had put away My labor and my leisure too, For His Civility” (Dickinson 713-714), she was most likely referring to the fact that funeral directors are also the ones we give our undivided attention to when a funeral is taking place (Abbott 140-143). Those two symbols support the hypothesis that Dickinson’s poem symbolizes a funeral. The school, the fields, the setting sun, and the house described in the poem could refer to the stages of life which are being addressed in a sermon performed by the funeral director (Frank 82-83). The hypothesis does make sense because the symbols in the poem serve as evidence to support it; however, “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” is one of the most ambiguous pieces of literature that exists. Dickinson is the only person who could confirm or deny this interpretation; unfortunately, she is no longer with us. Therefore, there is no way this hypothesis or any other can be confirmed or proven.

Another obvious literary device present in “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” is enjambment. Enjambment happens when a sentence is paused unexpectedly and then continued. Examples of enjambment can be found all over the poem. One example being: “Because I could not stop for death- He kindly stopped for me-" (Dickinson 713-714). The use of the dash is the most prominent feature in the poem’s structure. The dashes pause sentences and clauses before they end, which causes readers to stop for a second and read slowly. Dashes differ from commas and colons, which makes the structure of this poem very interesting to readers (Spacey).

Personification is also present in this poem. Personification occurs when we give human characteristics or qualities to something that is not human. The most evident example of personification in “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” is death itself. In the poem, Dickinson describes death as a kind and civil gentleman who stops for her to take her on a carriage ride (Encle 72-75). Her description of death is quite interesting not only because she personified it by attributing human qualities to it; but also because the characteristics used to describe it were complementary. Although in most cultures death is seen as something catastrophic and unfortunate, Dickinson talks about her encounter with death as if it were a pleasant interaction. The way she personified death supports a hypothesis that argues this poem is Dickinson’s own hypothesis of what happens after someone dies. Some writers who have analyzed the poem argue she was fascinated with death and saw it as a positive experience; therefore, she wrote this poem (Spacey). However, that is just a hypothesis.

“Because I Could Not Stop for Death” by Emily Dickinson is a poem that describes a pleasant encounter with death and a relaxing carriage ride; however, its true meaning will always remain a mystery. Just like any other ambiguous piece of literature, this poem has been interpreted in many ways. Readers can choose which interpretation to believe in based on the evidence presented on each hypothesis; however, the use of literary devices is obvious to all readers, regardless of the hypothesis they support.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

Abbott, Collamer M. "Dickinson's because I could Not Stop for Death." The Explicator, vol. 57, no. 4, 1999, pp. 212-213. ProQuest, https://search-proquest-com.uaptc.idm.oclc.org/scholarly-journals/dickinsons-because-i-could-not-stop-death/docview/216774168/se-2?accountid=39906.

Abbott, Collamer M. "Dickinson's because I could Not Stop for Death." The Explicator, vol. 58, no. 3, 2000, pp. 140-143. ProQuest, https://search-proquest-com.uaptc.idm.oclc.org/scholarly-journals/dickinsons-because-i-could-not-stop-death/docview/216774706/se-2?accountid=39906.

Dickinson, Emily. “Because I Could Not Stop for Death.” Composition Mix, W.W. Norton & Company, 2020, p. 713-714.

Encle, Patricia. "Dickinson's BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP FOR DEATH." The Explicator, vol. 60, no. 2, 2002, pp. 72-75. ProQuest, https://search.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/dickinsons-because-i-could-not-stop-death/docview/2191284539/se-2?accountid=39906.

Frank, Bernhard. "Dickinson's because I could Not Stop for Death--." The Explicator, vol. 58, no. 2, 2000, pp. 82-83. ProQuest, https://search-proquest-com.uaptc.idm.oclc.org/scholarly-journals/dickinsons-because-i-could-not-stop-death/docview/216774409/se-2?accountid=39906.

Spacey, Andrew. Summary and Analysis of the POEM "Because I Could Not Stop FOR Death" by Emily Dickinson.  Owlcation - Education. 7 Jan. 2020, owlcation.com/humanities/Summary-and-Analysis-of-Poem-Because-I-Could-Not-Stop-For-Death-by-Emily-Dickinson.