Because I could not stop for Death: Structure & Language Techniques

Structure

Dickinson utilizes a quatrain structure (four-line stanzas), characteristic of hymn-singing, a significant part of Dickinson’s upbringing.
The consistent iambic meter echoes the steady approach of the Death carriage, creating an air of inevitability and calmness.
Strategic use of dashes to foster reader engagement - creates pauses, altering rhythm and introducing tension or uncertainty.

Personification of ‘Death’ and ‘immortality’- frames death as a gentle suitor, transforming it from grim reality to comforting companion.
Vibrant imagery and symbolism, i.e., the setting sun and cooler day, signify the transition from life to death.
Utilization of slant rhyme/jhalf-rhyme is a significant component of Dickinson’s unconventional style.
Use of alliteration (“gossamer gown”, “tippet”, “tulle”), creating a soft, soothing rhythm that mirrors the speaker’s peaceful journey towards death.
Final line’s shift to past tense emphasizes that the speaker’s journey was to the afterlife, introducing a contemplative, retrospective tone.