Question

how do the settings of \because i could not stop for death\ and \some keep the sabbath going to church\ differ?

traveling in the former represents a journey toward death, while the setting of the latter shows that the speaker is well grounded.
the landscape in the former represents a worshipful attitude toward nature, while the natural setting is only symbolic in the latter.
the setting of the former is separate from the poems themes, while the setting of the latter is merely a backdrop for a larger theme.
the countryside setting in the former creates a dreamlike mood, while the setting of the latter creates a mood of artificial happiness.

Explanation:

Analyze the first poem's setting

In Emily Dickinson's poem "Because I Could Not Stop for Death," the setting is a carriage ride with Death and Immortality. This journey takes the speaker past a school, fields of gazing grain, and the setting sun, representing a transition from life to the grave and eternity. Thus, traveling in this setting directly represents a journey toward death. This aligns with Emily Dickinson Poetry.

Analyze the second poem's setting

In "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church," the speaker stays at home instead of attending a physical church. The setting is her home and garden, where a bobolink serves as the choir and the orchard is the dome. This natural, domestic setting shows that the speaker is well-grounded in her personal faith and immediate surroundings, finding heaven on Earth. This is a key element of Comparative Poetry Analysis.

Evaluate the given options

• Option 1: Correctly identifies that traveling in the former represents a journey toward death, while the setting of the latter shows the speaker is well-grounded in her immediate, natural environment.
• Option 2: Incorrect, as the latter poem features a deeply worshipful attitude toward nature, not just a symbolic backdrop.
• Option 3: Incorrect, as the settings in both poems are deeply integrated with their themes.
• Option 4: Incorrect, as the latter does not create a mood of "artificial happiness" but rather genuine spiritual contentment.

Answer:

• (A) Traveling in the former represents a journey toward death, while the setting of the latter shows that the speaker is well grounded. (Correct answer)
• (B) The landscape in the former represents a worshipful attitude toward nature, while the natural setting is only symbolic in the latter.
• (C) The setting of the former is separate from the poem’s themes, while the setting of the latter is merely a backdrop for a larger theme.
• (D) The countryside setting in the former creates a dreamlike mood, while the setting of the latter creates a mood of artificial happiness.