It was not Death, for I stood up: Plot

Plot Overview

The speaker opens by stating that it was not death that caused them to stand up.
The speaker is in a state of despair and suffering, though they can’t exactly pinpoint the cause of their misery.
They hint at some sort of major loss or upheaval that they have experienced which has left them reeling.
This condition of despair and confusion continues, and the speaker speaks of losing all sense of time and reality.
The poem ends on an uncertain note, with the speaker unable to articulate or understand what was taking place.

Setting

The setting is internal and not explicitly defined, leaving room for various interpretations.
The environment is characterized by darkness, uncertainty, despair, and melancholy, reflecting the speaker’s mental and emotional state.

Characters

The only character in the poem is the speaker, whose identity is not disclosed.

Conflict

There is an internal conflict within the speaker, struggling to understand and articulate their feelings of despair and confusion.
There appears to be an unresolved ordeal or loss that the speaker grapples with.

Resolution

The poem does not offer any clear resolution. The speaker remains in a state of despair, confusion, and loss as the poem concludes.

Major Themes

Death and Despair: The speaker expresses feelings that touch on death but insist that it’s not death they’re feeling.
Loss and Grief: The poem suggests some major loss or setback has taken place, causing profound grief and despair.
Isolation and Alienation: The speaker seems isolated, unable to understand their own feelings or make sense of what’s happened.

In terms of the narrative voice, the poem uses the first person (“I”), creating a strong sense of personal insight and interiority. The speaker seems distanced from their own emotions and experiences, suggesting a state of disorientation or shock.

Key Vocabulary

“And Doom is dark and deeper than any Sea”: This quote indicates the depth of the speaker’s terror and despair, likened to the vast, unknowable deep of the sea.
“Time felt like a Snow”: The speaker suggests that their perception of time is distorted, everything feels distant and cold.
“I could not feel my Being, I was none”: Here the speaker struggles with a sense of identity and self-existence in an induced state of shock or despair.