“We passed the setting sun./Or rather, he passed us;” (12-13) The sun itself experiences the cycle of life and death every day. The sun is born at sunrise and dies at sunset. Dickinson uses the symbol of the setting sun to symbolize
the time in the speaker's life when she was nearing death and her eventual death
.
What does the setting sun indicate?
of the setting sun”: used
to denote a country, region, etc., located in or associated with the west
. 5The sinking of the sun below the horizon in the evening (especially as marking or representing the end of the day) or the time when this occurs; sunset.
What does the setting sun symbolize in because I could not stop for death?
The setting sun symbolizes
the end of life
. The speaker is nearing the end of her journey. What will follow, of course, is nighttime—or death. That is, the speaker's sun is setting, and she is leaving her earthly existence.
What does setting sun symbolize in the 3rd stanza?
In this stanza, the symbolism is shown in line 1, line 3, and line 4. … The last line tells the readers that the carriage passed the ‘setting sun'. The phrase ‘setting sun' symbolizes
the old time that is known to represent the end of the day or in this line is the end of the speaker's life
.
What does the line we passed the fields of gazing grain We passed the setting sun mean?
The speaker tells us that they took their time driving to where they were going, passing the school where children were on their break, and fields of grain, and the sun – which is, symbolically, setting
in the sky, suggestive of death
.
How is death described in the poem?
In the poem, a female speaker tells the story of how she was visited by “Death”—personified as a “kindly” gentleman—and taken for a ride in his carriage. …
We drove unhurriedly, with Death in no rush
. I had left all my work and pleasures behind, in order to be respectful of his gentlemanly nature.
How is death personified in the poem?
Dickinson uses personification to
convey how death is like a person
in her poem “Because I could Not Stop for Death.” This is shown when she conveys how death waits for her. … Dickinson portrays that death acts like a person waiting for her to join. Another example is when she compares death to its manners.
Is the sun always setting?
It is always setting, right now
. We have to acknowledge that truth is relative to the observer. If there were nobody observing the sunset there would be no sunset. … A sunset, after all, is an experience.
What is the best way to define setting?
- 1 : the place and conditions in which something happens or exists This would be a beautiful/perfect/ideal setting for a picnic. …
- 2 : the time, place, and conditions in which the action of a book, movie, etc., takes place The movie changes the play's setting from the late 18th century to the year 2000.
What do you say to a beautiful sunset?
- “Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn.” – …
- “When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in the worship of the creator.” – …
- “No sun outlasts its sunset, but will rise again and bring the dawn.” –
What is theme of the poem?
Theme is
the lesson or message of the poem
. Does the poem have something to say about life or human nature? That message would be the theme, and there can be more than one theme for a single poem, even something as short as ‘We Real Cool'! … Examine the poem carefully.
What does fields of gazing grain mean?
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain – We passed the Setting Sun – Or rather – He passed Us- Literal meaning:
The heads of wheat in the field are looking at her as the sun goes down.
What does I first surmised the horses heads mean?
I first surmised the Horses' Heads.
Were toward Eternity
– These final lines recall the very first time the speaker encountered the horse-drawn carriage and had a feeling that they were more than just regular horses – that they signified her journey to the afterlife.
What is a major theme in this is my letter to the world quizlet?
What is a major theme in “This is my letter to the world”? … The theme of this poem
is uncovered and the readers understand that death comes to everyone and ends our mortality.
Why is the phrase we passed repeated?
We should also notice the repeated phrase, “We passed” (in poetry-speak, a repeated word or phrase throughout a poem is called anaphora). … So instead of feeling like this poem is at a standstill, we're aware that
it's moving forward
. It almost allows us to be a part of their journey, not just outside observers.
What is the role of immortality in the poem?
Death is personified in the poem. … That being said, the role of immortality, personified as well, must “go along” for the ride” given women of the time were not allowed to be with a “man” alone if not married to him. Therefore, the role of immortality is
one of a chaperon
.
