Because I

Could not Stop

for Death
By: Emily Dickinson
 Group Members:

A
Arslan Ashraf – S137

Zainab Mehmood – S77

Haris Ramzan – S128

Shiza Hasnain – S125

Ayesha Muqadas – S29

 Reference To The Context:
Because I could not stop for Death" is a
lyrical poem by Emily Dickinson first
published posthumously in Poems: Series 1 in
1890
Emily Dickinson
An American Poet
• Emily Elizabeth Dickinson (December 10, 1830 – May 15,
1886).
• The most important figures in American poetry.

”
• Many of her poems deal with themes of death and
immortality.
• She continued to write in her last years as well.
• Dickinson's work was never authorized to be published.
Theme:
In her poem 'Because I could not stop for Death', Emily
Dickinson describes a close encounter with “Death” and
“Immortality”. She uses personification to portray
“Death” and “Immortality” as characters. Her
familiarity with them at the beginning of the poem
causes the reader to feel at ease with the idea of death.
Background:
• The poem was published posthumously in 1890.
• The poet's persona speaks about Death and Afterlife.
• There are various interpretations of Dickinson's poem.

• The poem personifies Death as a gentleman.

• She briefs us of her past life while she was still alive.
 Poetic Devices

Repetition Alliteration Metaphor Personification Capitalization

“We “Recess…Ring-” The character of Death is It brings the

passed…” “Grazing Grain” death is used as an personified and is a reader’s attention
extended metaphor guide leading the to the word and
appears 3 times “Setting Sun” to examine what speaker to eternity show its
in the 3 stanza “Horses’ Heads” real death may be importance.
like
01
Because I could not stop
for Death,
He kindly stopped for
me;
The carriage held but just
ourselves
And Immortality.
 Carriage:

Immorality
Presentation title 10
02
We slowly drove- He
knew no haste,
And I had put away
My Labor, and my
leisure too,
For His Civility.
03
We passed the School, where
Children strove
At Recess, in the Ring-
We passed the Fields of
Gazing Grain-
We passed the Sett Sun
Gazing
Grain

Childhood
Presentation title
Setting Sun:
04
Or rather – He passed Us –
The Dews drew quivering
and Chill –
For only Gossamer, my
Gown –
My Tippet – only Tulle –
Gossamer: Tulle:

Tippe
t:
Presentation title
 We paused before a

05
House that seemed
A Swelling of the Ground
–
The Roof was scarcely
visible –
The Cornice – in the
Ground –
18
06
Since then – 'tis
Centuries – and yet
Feels shorter than the
Day
I first surmised the
Horses' Heads
Were toward Eternity –
• Diction:
 Unconventional Themes.
 Shortness and Conciseness.
 Transcendentalism.
 Untitled Poems.
 Symbolism.
 Unique Writing Style.
 Tone:

Light-hearted and
Solemn Shock
Accepting

Uses words like “kindly”,

“civility” Uses phrases such as “He knew “Because I could not stop for
no haste” Death-”
Although death is a sad event, she
makes it seem like a good thing Death is a serious subject, Death came in her busy life.
 Summary
Death
Immortality
Stages of life
Eternity
  “Fields of Grazing Grain”
 “Setting Sun”
Transcendentalist or
Anti-Transcendentalist? “Dews” “…a House that seemed a
swelling of the Ground” (her
grave)
 Great Things are not
Thank you done by one person.
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of people .
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