Question

In at least 100 words, describe why Dickinson might have used an arc structure for "Because I could not stop for Death."

Answer 1

Dickinson's "Because I could not stop for Death" is structured as arc because throughout the course of the poem, Dickinson takes the reader on her journey. At the beginning she discusses how she sees the school children, which represents her youth. Then, she writes about the "fields grazing grain," which represents her adulthood. Finally, she talks about the setting sun and her at her old age. Each of these are leading to death when she is being brought to the grave. This allows for the reader to understand that death comes to everyone and ends our mortality.

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