Because I Could Not Stop for Death

1. Death is not usually considered a “light” topic, yet the rhyme, rhythm, and meter of the poem create a light, upbeat, and song-like pace. What are some possible reasons Dickinson may have had for creating this contrast? How does her use of rhythm and meter contribute to the poem’s overall message about death?

2. In the third stanza, the speaker passes three scenes: children playing at recess, fields of grain, and the setting sun. Why do you think Dickinson chose these particular scenes? Do they have any possible symbolic meanings? How do they contribute to the reader’s understanding of the speaker’s journey? Share the thought process behind your answers, and how you came to your conclusion.

3. Lines such as “He kindly stopped for me” (Line 2) and “We slowly drove—He knew no haste” (Line 5) suggest that although the speaker is riding in Death’s carriage, she feels no sense of fear or alarm. Where in the poem does the speaker’s view begin to shift? How does Dickinson create that shift? How would you describe the speaker’s feelings at the end of the poem? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

4. How does the speaker perceive the passage of time in the first three stanzas? What realization does she have in the final stanza regarding time? How does her realization change the reader’s understanding of how time passes in the poem? Based on your answers to the first three questions, what do you think Dickinson is saying about time?