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Overview
“Because I could not stop for Death” is a poem by the American poet Emily Dickinson
. Although not published until the 1890s, Dickinson likely wrote this poem in 1863, in the middle of her most generative period. Like many of the poems written during this period, this one showcases a preoccupation with death. Yet Dickinson lightens the subject with the jaunty rhythms and rhymes of ballad meter, along with her famous personification of Death as a kindly gentleman. These aspects have guaranteed the poem enduring fame, and they have led to its being set to music by several influential composers, including Aaron Copland.Read a summary & analysis, an analysis of the speaker, and explanations of important quotes from “Because I could not stop for Death.”
