Emily Dickinson's Because I Could Not Stop For Death

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Context & purpose
Because I could not stop for Death was written by Emily Dickinson around 1863 and published posthumously in 1890. In this poem, her purpose is to challenge the conventional fear of death. Funeral Blues was published by English poet, WH Auden in 1938, and its purpose is to express grief after the death of a loved one.
Central ideas
Both poems convey the inevitability of death. Dickinson emphasises that Death is inevitable as he “stopped for [the speaker]” even though she “could not stop for [Him]”. The speaker’s human life is cut short by Death so she now has to “put away [her] labour and leisure”. Similarly, Auden reinforces the transience of human life as death has shortened his speaker’s close relationship with his lover. …show more content…

The "School" symbolises youth "where Children strove at Recess", creating an atmosphere of energy and liveliness. Nevertheless, the "Ring" in which the Children strive seems to signify the circle of life in which the physical human life has to end eventually. Moreover, the ripened, "Gazing Grain" represents maturity whereas the "Setting Sun" foreshadows death. However, the grave is depicted by Dickinson's metaphor of a "House" that is familiar to the reader, which exhibits her comfort and calmness towards death. Conversely, Auden uses metaphors to reinforce the transience of human life as his speaker refers to his lover as his four cardinal directions and all seven days of the week. Auden also uses synecdoche when the speaker's lover is referred to as his metaphorical "noon" and "midnight", which represent all hours of the day, signifying his life. Thus, the transience of human life is intensely highlighted through the speaker's pain and trauma from losing his lover. On the contrary, Dickinson's speaker's "labour" and "leisure" is a synecdoche for her life, which has been "put away" for her to move "toward Eternity", which conversely highlights the eternity of life after …show more content…

Dickinson begins with an optimistic, appreciative tone, creating a tranquil atmosphere with "no haste". Dickinson’s calm and relaxed tone then becomes reminiscent through her use of anaphora as "we passed" different stages of life. A drastic change in tone is observed in Stanzas 4 and 5 which express uncertainty and fear as the speaker reaches her grave that has a "scarcely" visible Roof. Nonetheless, a tone of acceptance and peace is revealed in the final stanza as the serene atmosphere of eternal life is depicted.
Auden’s Funeral Blues starts off with a strong imperative voice in a direct, forceful tone to portray the struggle of coping with grief. The poet’s repetition of "my" depicts the speaker’s change in tone from seriousness to become wistful and melancholic while reflecting upon his love. The poem is ended with a sombre, despairing tone to create a gloomy atmosphere. Therefore, Dickinson evokes the reader's calm, optimistic mood whereas Auden elicits a mood of hopelessness in the

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