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

Analysis of Emily Dickinsons Because I Could Not Stop for remnantIn call for to Emily Dickinsons poem, Because I Could Not Stop for Death, Critic Eunice Glenn says In the first two lines Death, personified as a carriage driver, weakens for one who could not stop for him. The word kindly is particularly meaningful, for it instantly characterizes Death. This comes with surprise, too, since death is more often considered grim and terrible (Glenn). Critic Charles R. Anderson says, Death, usually rude, sudden, and impersonal, has been transformed into a kindly and well-heeled 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 take the word kindly for its most common definitionsagreeable, pleasant, benevolent, etc. With further research, however, alternative, as well as more enlightening, definitions compel available. The Oxfor d English Dictionary defines kindly as In accordance with nature instinctively by natural disposition characteristically and In the way sufficient or appropriate 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 gracious 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 Young University, Idaho works CitedAnderson, Charles R. new-fashioned American Poetry. 1 Jan 2002. University of Illinois. 13 Sept. 2005 uiuc.edu/maps/poets/a_f/dickinson/712.h tm.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. Handbook of Literary Terms. Chelmsford Courier Corp.,2005.Kindly. Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed. 1989.