Exploring Metaphor, Conceit, and Imagery in Emily Dickinson’s Because I Could Not Stop for Death and Robert Frost’s Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening: A Cognitive Poetics Analysis

Abstract

This paper explores the use of metaphor, conceit, and imagery in Emily Dickinson’s Because I
Could Not Stop for Death and Robert Frost’s Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening through the
lens of Cognitive Poetics. By examining the mental spaces and conceptual metaphors evoked by
these literary devices, the study highlights how both poets engage with themes of mortality,
existence, and the human condition. Dickinson’s personification of death and the metaphor of the
carriage ride symbolize the inevitability of mortality, while Frost’s metaphor of the woods as both
a place of rest and temptation reflects the tension between life’s duties and the allure of solitude.
Through vivid imagery and symbolic conceits, both poets invite readers into distinct mental and
emotional spaces, emphasizing the contrast between the pull of death and the demands of life. This
analysis underscores the power of cognitive processes in the interpretation and emotional
resonance of poetry, demonstrating how metaphor, conceit, and imagery serve as tools for
understanding complex human experiences.