Question

because i could not stop for death
emily dickinson
1 because i could not stop for death—
he kindly stopped for me—
the carriage held but just ourselves—
and immortality.
5 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
10 at recess—in the ring—
we passed the fields of grazing grain—
we passed the setting sun—

we paused before a house that seemed
a swelling of the ground—
15 the room was scarcely visible—
the cornice—in the ground—

since then—’tis centuries—and yet
feels shorter than the day
i first surmised the horses’ heads
20 were toward eternity—
if you were assigned to write an essay on how the figure of death is personified in this poem, how would you describe deaths general character traits?
a he is ominous and grim in his demeanor.
b he is sweet and full of mirth, like a friend.
c he is full of contempt for most of humanity.
d he is like a gentleman caller, or a chivalrous suitor.

Explanation:

In the poem, Death is personified as a kind and polite figure. The lines “He kindly stopped for me” and “For His Civility” suggest a respectful and gentlemanly demeanor. Option A’s “ominous and grim” does not match the kind - stopping and civil nature. Option B’s “sweet and full of mirth” is not indicated; the poem has a more solemn yet respectful tone. Option C’s “contempt” is not shown. Option D, “like a gentleman caller, or a chivalrous suitor” aligns with the kind stopping and civility described in the poem.

Answer:

D. He is like a gentleman caller, or a chivalrous suitor.