The Breakdown
Dickenson's Text Modern Interpretation
Because I could not stop for Death - I couldn't stop what I was doing to die
He kindly stopped for me He politely came to me instead
The Carriage held but just Ourselves - Death and I rode by ourselves in the carriage
And Immortality Don't forget immortality....everlasting life?
We slowly drove - He knew no haste We putted along, he was in no hurry
And I had put away No translation necessary!
My labor and my leisure too, My work and my spare time
For His Civility In exchange for death's courteous behavior
We passed the School, where Children strove We drove by some kids playing by a school
At Recess - in the Ring - Yep...still playing!
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain - We passed some calming landscapes
We passed the Setting Sun - Sun's going down...possible metaphor?
Or rather - He passed us - The sun is leaving us behind
The Dews drew quivering and chill - It's getting cold out
For only Gossamer, my Gown My gown's not right for this weather
My Tippet - only Tulle The thing material is the worst for this weather!
We paused before a House that seemed We stopped at a "house"
A Swelling of the Ground It seemed to grow up out of the ground
The Roof was scarcely visible - We could barely see the roof
The Cornice - in the Ground A part of it was actually in the ground
Since then - 'tis Centuries - and yet Since then, centuries ago...
Feels shorter than the Day Feels like just a day has gone by since then
I first surmised the Horses' Heads I first noticed the heads of the guiding horses
Were toward Eternity Faced toward eternity
He kindly stopped for me He politely came to me instead
The Carriage held but just Ourselves - Death and I rode by ourselves in the carriage
And Immortality Don't forget immortality....everlasting life?
We slowly drove - He knew no haste We putted along, he was in no hurry
And I had put away No translation necessary!
My labor and my leisure too, My work and my spare time
For His Civility In exchange for death's courteous behavior
We passed the School, where Children strove We drove by some kids playing by a school
At Recess - in the Ring - Yep...still playing!
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain - We passed some calming landscapes
We passed the Setting Sun - Sun's going down...possible metaphor?
Or rather - He passed us - The sun is leaving us behind
The Dews drew quivering and chill - It's getting cold out
For only Gossamer, my Gown My gown's not right for this weather
My Tippet - only Tulle The thing material is the worst for this weather!
We paused before a House that seemed We stopped at a "house"
A Swelling of the Ground It seemed to grow up out of the ground
The Roof was scarcely visible - We could barely see the roof
The Cornice - in the Ground A part of it was actually in the ground
Since then - 'tis Centuries - and yet Since then, centuries ago...
Feels shorter than the Day Feels like just a day has gone by since then
I first surmised the Horses' Heads I first noticed the heads of the guiding horses
Were toward Eternity Faced toward eternity
What is this all about?
A modern interpretation may suggest that Dickinson was
writing about death...no surprise here! The way that she personifies death is
interesting. The speaker seems to welcome death and even
compliment him on his manners and appealing personality. As death picks up the
speaker, a sense of calm and enjoyment are apparent as Dickinson writes, "He
knew no haste/ And I had put away/ My labor and leisure too,/ For his civility"
(lines 5-8). Together, they ride past a comforting landscape and seemingly
every-day life, until they arrive at a rather peculiar house. The house may be
interpreted as a grave that protrudes out of the ground. The last stanza reveals
that the speaker has been dead centuries, and that he/she feels that only a
day has passed since the journey began.
writing about death...no surprise here! The way that she personifies death is
interesting. The speaker seems to welcome death and even
compliment him on his manners and appealing personality. As death picks up the
speaker, a sense of calm and enjoyment are apparent as Dickinson writes, "He
knew no haste/ And I had put away/ My labor and leisure too,/ For his civility"
(lines 5-8). Together, they ride past a comforting landscape and seemingly
every-day life, until they arrive at a rather peculiar house. The house may be
interpreted as a grave that protrudes out of the ground. The last stanza reveals
that the speaker has been dead centuries, and that he/she feels that only a
day has passed since the journey began.
Poetic Form
Because I could not stop for Death - Iambic Tetrameter: There are four "feet" in the first and third line of each stanza. Say
He kindly stopped for me - these lines aloud and note the syllables, you'll hear the feet! Thus, tetra (four) meter
The Carriage held but just Ourselves - Iambic Trimeter: There are three "feet" in the second and fourth line of each stanza. Say
And Immortality these lines aloud and note the syllables, you'll hear the feet, again! Thus, tri (three) meter
He kindly stopped for me - these lines aloud and note the syllables, you'll hear the feet! Thus, tetra (four) meter
The Carriage held but just Ourselves - Iambic Trimeter: There are three "feet" in the second and fourth line of each stanza. Say
And Immortality these lines aloud and note the syllables, you'll hear the feet, again! Thus, tri (three) meter