Comparing Tone And Dickinson's Poems

Death seems to be a popular subject for literature. Death’s many unknowns may cause this—not all are sure of what comes after, and scientists cannot study its effects. Therefore, writers take a stab at describing and explaining it. Emily Dickinson and John Donne both do this in their respective poems. While they have the same topics, these two poems have plenty of differences as well. “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” and “Death, be not Proud” address the same topics but focus on different aspects of them, have drastically different styles, and flow very differently.

First, when read out loud, these two poems flow very differently and have different rhythms. Their accents and pauses come in all different places, this due to two
While “Death, Be Not Proud” is in sonnet form, “Because I Could Not Stop For Death” comes in four-lined stanzas. The rigid and strict structure of the sonnet in Donne’s poem adds to the sureness with which he addresses Death. But while Dickinson’s poem follows its structure, the four-lined stanzas contribute to the poem’s meandering tone and mysterious words. The two poets skillfully use the tools available to them to fit the topics they address. These two poems differ in their tone and form.

Lastly, the theme of both poems is death. But this does not mean they have exactly the same subjects. While Donne’s poem blatantly defies death and declares its powerlessness, Dickinson’s poem takes the view of someone surrendered to death. These fundamentally different viewpoints give two unique glimpses at the mysteries, and certainties, of death. Donne’s poem rants at death’s face as if he were a living being, telling him how he has no control and ultimately cannot affect us. Dickinson’s poem gives a more foggy, vague view on what death will bring, presented as a carriage ride that visits different places of strange names. Dickinson and Donne’s poems on death make different points on the matter and address different