Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Emily Dickinson Analysis

In “Because I Could Not Stop for Death”, Emily Dickinson utilizes tone, imagery, and symbolism to represent perspectives on death. Part of the effectiveness of using tone in this poem comes from the way Dickenson uses perspective to further develop the idea on how people view death differently. For example, in the first and second line it says, “Because I couldn’t not stop for death- He kindly stopped for me.” This shows that using the literary element tone he was able to create an explanation of how he died. To add on, Dickinson also uses sentences like, “We slowly drove- He knew no haste,” and, “We passed the Setting Sun- Or rather- He passed Us-,” the literary element tone is expressed in these lines. All three of these sentences help the reader better understand what is happening in the poem, and how the tone can help people see what other people see.

In addition, Dickensons’ sophisticated range of vocabulary creates an image that paints a picture of what people see when they are being taken to a graveyard in a casket. The complex words and phrases also helps the meaning of the poem be greater. As shown in the fourteenth line Dickinson uses words such as, “The Dews drew quivering and Chill-“ this creates an image in the reader's mind of what is happening due to Dickinson’s use of language. This was also shown in line seven, and sixteen. She says, “My labor and my leisure too, For His Civility-'' and, “For only Gossamer, my Gown- My Tippet- only Tulle.” Dickinson's use of vocabulary helps the reader view and picture what is happening by creating a vivid picture inside their minds. Without Dickinson's use of complex vocabulary this poem would not have the same meaning it does today.

Using imagery Dickenson creates a deeper meaning to the poem besides just dying. For instance, in line eleven imagery is being displayed when Dickinson says, “We passed the School, where Children strove”. Even though it is obvious, the context of how even though he is dead he can still see life. She creates a meaning that even though when you are dead you can still see life and you don’t see it any different when you are riding in a casket. Second in line twenty one, twenty two, and ten the visual picture helps us imagine what the man in the casket sees. Overall, in “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” the perspective on life and death was viewed differently using the literary elements of tone, imagery, and symbolism.