Final answer:
The correct answer to how Dickinson's personification of death affects the meaning of her poem is a) The personification of death as polite suggests that people need not fear death. Dickinson's portrayal invites a view of death as a natural part of life and her control over themes prevents her poems from being overly solemn.
Step-by-step explanation:
The personification of death in Dickinson's poetry often shifts our perception of the inevitable end we all face. In her famous poem 'Because I could not stop for Death -', the personification of death as a polite and courteous entity suggests that death is a natural, and not necessarily fearful, part of life. This treatment of death invites readers to view the end of life with a certain degree of acceptance and perhaps even comfort, contrasting with more harrowing portrayals of death as something to be feared.
Death and isolation are recurring themes in Dickinson's work, but these themes are balanced with a precise control over the interplay between the natural world and the divine. Such precision ensures her poems do not become overly solemn. Instead, there's a lyrical quality that invokes both imagination and an acute awareness of the surrounding world. This is particularly evident when Dickinson juxtaposes mortality with desire, harnessing their combined energies to craft lyrics that captivate and awaken the reader.
Regarding the specific answer to the question, option a) The personification of death as polite suggests that people need not fear death is the correct choice, as Dickinson portrays death in a way that encourages readers not to be afraid of its presence.