Steven Porter
AP Literature
December 8, 2009
Explication: "Because I could not stop for Death"
The use of literary elements in order to add structure and dissonance to a poem is a
technique that has been used for centuries. The poem "Because I could not stop for Death"
by Emily Dickinson uses symbolism, allegory, personification, and approximate rhymes to
create an abstract depiction of the dying process. Each stanza within the poem contains a
pivotal part of the whole, which aids in portraying. The first stanza describes Death stopping
for her, the second describes her observing Death as it drives her in the carriage, the third
is her recollection of her life, the fourth describes when she sees her own grave, and the
last stanza describes her endless existence without time after her own death.
The use of symbolism and allegory is prevalent in "Because I could not stop for Death."
Throughout the poem there exists an undertone of the dying process and death itself. The
first two lines, "Because I could not stop for Death, / He kindly stopped for me," (1-2)
contain the first elements that hint towards symbolism and allegory. The word "Death"
shows signs of symbolism due to the fact that it is capitalized and in the context of the
poem, it is clear that "Death" is symbolic for the grim reaper. Having death stop for her
represents her death, and being taken by death in what the poem later describes as a
horse-drawn carriage. From the third stanza to the fifth, the cycle of life is a prevalent
allegorical theme. The third stanza describes children at play in recess, depicting the
childhood of the narrator; the fields of grain, which represents adulthood and the maturing
process; and finally the dying process is represented by the setting sun. In the fourth
stanza, her death is described by the setting sun passing her. In the fifth stanza, the
"swelling of the ground" (18) represents her freshly sealed grave. Symbolism and allegory
help create an intricate understanding of the poem, and are prevalent within the text.
In addition to symbolism and allegory, personification plays an important role within the
poem. Death is described by Dickinson as a living, breathing entity. She portrays "Death"
almost as a male partner to the narrator through having him "kindly" pick her up in a
carriage to go for a ride. Using this technique adds a personality to a force of nature, which
adds depth to the personified character, adds imagery by turning death into human form,
and helps develop the plot in a manner that can be. Death is portrayed as a friendly
character that the narrator is not afraid of, and he guides the narrator through the dying
process of recollecting her past and moving on after death to exist eternally. Death, as a
personified character in the poem who sheds light on the cycle of life and death in the
presence of the narrator, helps expand the perspective on life that Dickinson portrays in her
poem.
Thirdly, Dickinson's use of approximate rhymes in her poem is an important part of the
rhythmic structure of the poem itself. In example, the second stanza contains an
approximate rhyme between the words "away" and "civility." In each stanza, the
approximate rhymes appear between the second and fourth line. The approximate rhymes
in "Because I could not stop for Death" allow for more extensive of a vocabulary within the
poem while maintaining musical dissonance. It also creates a noticeable difference in sound
between the words, emphasizing each end of the word and making the words more
prominent. Using approximate rhymes within the text adds a great deal to the musical
devices.
“Because I could not stop for Death” utilizes several literary devices, each with their
own role in creating a piece of literature. The devices used add complexity to the text and
help to create a better understanding of the poem as a whole.