1. Because I could not stop for Death
Emily Dickinson

2. LIFE & DEATH Is life a happy idea? Is life a journey?
What are the stages of life?
Is death a happy idea?
Is death a journey?
What is the protocol for death?

3. Sooo…what is this poem about?
In this poem, Dickinson captures the inevitability of death and suggests a belief in an eternal afterlife through the personification of Death as a coach driver who carries people toward their final resting place.

4. Because I could not stop for Death (Pg. 420)
Because I could not stop for Death - He kindly stopped for me - The Carriage held but just Ourselves - And Immortality.
We slowly drove - He knew no haste And I had put away My labor, and my leisure too, For his Civility -
We passed the School, where Children strove At recess - in the Ring - We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain - We passed the Setting Sun -
Or rather, He passed Us - The Dews grew quivering and chill - For only Gossamer my Gown, My Tippet - only Tulle -
We paused before a House that seemed A Swelling of the Ground - The Roof was scarcely visible - The Cornice – in the Ground -
Since then - 'tis Centuries - and yet each Feels shorter than the Day I first surmised the Horses' Heads Were toward Eternity.

5. Now, let’s go stanza through stanza
Remember to think outside of the box like with the poetry puzzles

6. Stanza One
Because I could not stop for Death - He kindly stopped for me - The Carriage held but just Ourselves - And Immortality.
1) On page 420, what is the picture of?
2) Why don’t we stop for death? What are we doing?
3) Is death kind?
Carriage – Death is a coach driver
Poetry Terms:
Alliteration?
Because, could, kindly, carriage
Personification?
Death kindly stopping for you.
Vocabulary:
Immortality - Unending life

7. Stanza Two
We slowly drove - He knew no haste And I had put away My labor, and my leisure too, For his Civility - 4) Why did he slowly drive?
Poetry Terms:
Alliteration?
He, haste, had, his
Personification?
Death driving slowly
Vocabulary:
Civility - Politeness

8. Stanza Three 5) What does the school symbolize?
We passed the School, where Children strove At recess - in the Ring - We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain - We passed the Setting Sun -
5) What does the school symbolize?
6) What does the fields of gazing grain symbolize?
7) What does the setting sun symbolize?
Poetry Terms:
Repetition?
We passed

9. Stanza Four
Or rather, He passed Us - The Dews grew quivering and chill - For only Gossamer my Gown, My Tippet - only Tulle - The sun passed them – The sun is always working…always alive. We also show life as the sun rising and then sun setting. 8) What do the gossamer gown and a tulle tippet have in common?
Poetry Terms:
Personification?
The sun passing us
Vocabulary:
Gossamer gown – Wedding dress for marrying death (buried in)
Tippet – Scarf for neck and shoulders
Tulle – Netting

10. Stanza Five
We paused before a House that seemed A Swelling of the Ground - The Roof was scarcely visible - The Cornice – in the Ground - 9) What is the house and why is it swelling from the ground?
Poetry Terms:
Alliteration?
Seemed/swelling
Vocabulary:
Cornice – horizontal molding along top of a wall.

11. Stanza Six
Since then - 'tis Centuries - and yet each Feels shorter than the Day I first surmised the Horses' Heads Were toward Eternity. 10) How long has it been since she died? 11) Why does a century feel shorter than a day?
Poetry Terms:
Alliteration?
Horse’s heads

12. Syllables and Meter
Because I could not stop for Death - He kindly stopped for me - The Carriage held but just Ourselves - And Immortality. 12) What is the meter (syllables per line/stanza)? What are the terms for these types of meter?

13. Syllables and Meter
Because I could not stop for Death - He kindly stopped for me - The Carriage held but just Ourselves - And Immortality. 12) What is the meter (syllables per line/stanza)? What are the terms for these types of meter?

14. Personification
Because I could not stop for Death - He kindly stopped for me - The Carriage held but just Ourselves - And Immortality.
13) Describe what personification is and how it is being used in the stanza above.

15. Let’s Review! Because I could not stop for Death (Pg. 420)
Because I could not stop for Death - He kindly stopped for me - The Carriage held but just Ourselves - And Immortality.
We slowly drove - He knew no haste And I had put away My labor, and my leisure too, For his Civility -
We passed the School, where Children strove At recess - in the Ring - We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain - We passed the Setting Sun -
Or rather, He passed Us - The Dews grew quivering and chill - For only Gossamer my Gown, My Tippet - only Tulle -
We paused before a House that seemed A Swelling of the Ground - The Roof was scarcely visible - The Cornice – in the Ground -
Since then - 'tis Centuries - and yet each Feels shorter than the Day I first surmised the Horses' Heads Were toward Eternity.

16. Summarize
14) Write a quick summary of this poem in your own words.