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What happens when you die? A poetic inquiry

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TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

Death, a kindly gentleman riding in a horse carriage, comes to collect a woman for her journey to the afterlife. So begins Emily Dickinson’s poem “Because I could not stop for Death,” an exploration of both the uncertainties of death and its inevitability. Dive into one of Dickinson’s most celebrated works, which speaks to life’s greatest mystery: what happens when you die?

Additional Resources for you to Explore

Emily Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts, where the Emily Dickinson Museum is not located to commemorate her legacy. To learn more about her poetry, watch this lesson by Crash Course and read more poems by Dickinson here.

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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Poet Emily Dickinson
  • Director Petra Balekić
  • Narrator Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Sound Designer Andrea Martignoni
  • Music Andrea Martignoni
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Associate Editorial Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott

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