Analysis of Emily Dickinsons Because I Could Not Stop for Death Essay

Analysis of Emily Dickinsons Because I Could not Stop for DeathIn cipher to Emily Dickinsons poem, Because I Could non Stop for Death, Critic Eunice Glenn says In the set-back two lines Death, personified as a air driver, stops for one who could non stop for him. The word complaisant is particularly meaningful, for it instantly char biterizes Death. This comes with surprise, too, since death is to a greater extent often considered grim and terrible (Glenn). Critic Charles R. Anderson says, Death, usually rude, sudden, and impersonal, has been transformed into a kindly and leisurely gentleman (Anderson). Both critics seem to agree on the significance of the word kindly in the first two lines of the poem. Because I could not stop for Death / He kindly stopped for me (1-2). They reckon the word kindly for its most popular definitionsagreeable, pleasant, benevolent, etc. With further research, however, alternative, as well as more enlightening, definitions become avai lable. The Oxford English Dictionary defines kindly as In accordance with nature innate(p)ly by raw(a) disposition characteristically and In the way suitable or set aside to the nature of the thing properly, fittingly (Kindly). These definitions add new insight to the poem. In the superficial sense, Death seemingly performed a charitable act by stopping for the speaker in application of these less common definitions, however, Death stopping for the speaker was necessary and proper. It was following after the natural course of things. Rather than merely suggesting the Death was a charming, courteous carriage driver, the speaker implies that Death was obligated to stop for her she is unable to stop for him. It is inter... ...s of conducting mortals into eternity. JAIME SORENSEN, Brigham teenage University, IdahoWorks CitedAnderson, Charles R. Modern American Poetry. 1 Jan 2002. University of Illinois. 13 Sept. 2005 uiuc.edu/maps/poets/a_f/dickinso n/712.htm.Dickinson, Emily. Because I Could Not Stop for Death. The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson. Ed. Thomas H. Johnson. Cambridge Belknap Press of Harvard UP, 1960.Engle, Patricia. Dickinsons Because I Could Not Stop For Death. The Explicator 60(2002) 72-75.Glenn, Eunice. Modern American Poetry. 1 Jan 2002. University of Illinois. 13 Sept. 2005 /poets/a_f/dickinson/712.htm.Kennedy, X.J., Dana Gioia, and Mark Bauerlein. vade mecum of Literary Terms. Chelmsford Courier Corp.,2005.Kindly. Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed. 1989.