'There 's a certain slant of light,' by Emily Dickinson
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There's a certain slant of light,
On winter afternoons
That oppresses, like the weight
Of cathedral tunes.
Heavenly hurt it gives us;
We can find no scar,
But internal difference
Where the meanings, are.
None may teach it anything,
'T is the seal, despair, --
An imperial affliction
Sent us of the air.
When it comes, the landscape listens,
Shadows hold their breath;
When it goes, 't is like the distance
On the look of death.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"There's a certain slant of light": A Hauntingly Beautiful Poem
Emily Dickinson, the American poet, has been an enigma for literary scholars and critics for a long time. Her unique style of writing, use of punctuation, and themes that range from death to love have puzzled many. In this essay, I will be focusing on one of her most famous poems, "There's a certain slant of light." I will discuss the various interpretations of the poem, its themes, and the literary devices used by Dickinson to convey her message.
An Intriguing Title
Before we delve into the poem itself, let's take a look at the title, "There's a certain slant of light." The title is intriguing and immediately grabs the reader's attention. The words "certain" and "slant" suggest that there is a specific type of light being referred to, and that it is not an ordinary or typical type of light. By using the word "certain," Dickinson creates a sense of mystery and suspense, inviting the reader to delve deeper into the poem.
The Poem
"There's a certain slant of light" is a short poem consisting of four quatrains. Each quatrain has an ABAB rhyme scheme, and the lines are written in iambic meter, with four iambs per line.
There's a certain Slant of light, Winter Afternoons – That oppresses, like the Heft Of Cathedral Tunes –
Heavenly Hurt, it gives us – We can find no scar, But internal difference, Where the Meanings, are –
None may teach it – Any – 'Tis the seal Despair – An imperial affliction Sent us of the Air –
When it comes, the Landscape listens – Shadows – hold their breath – When it goes, 'tis like the Distance On the look of Death –
Interpretation
The poem begins with the speaker describing a certain type of light that appears on winter afternoons. The use of the word "certain" suggests that this is not an ordinary type of light, but something that is significant and weighty. The second line compares this light to the "heft of cathedral tunes," which suggests that it is powerful and oppressive.
In the second quatrain, the speaker describes the effect that this light has on us. She describes it as a "heavenly hurt" that we cannot see, but can feel internally. The use of the word "heavenly" suggests that the hurt is something divine or spiritual, but the fact that it is a hurt suggests that it is also painful. The third line suggests that this hurt creates an "internal difference" within us, where the "meanings" are. This line is somewhat ambiguous, but it could suggest that the hurt creates a sense of meaning or significance within us, or that it alters our understanding of the world in some way.
The third quatrain is perhaps the most mysterious and enigmatic part of the poem. The speaker suggests that "none may teach it," and that it is an affliction sent to us from the air. The use of the word "imperial" suggests that this affliction is something that is beyond our control, and perhaps even divine in nature. The fact that it is sent to us from the air suggests that it is something intangible, but nonetheless real.
The final quatrain describes the effect that this light has on the landscape. When it comes, the landscape listens, and the shadows hold their breath. This suggests that the light is something that is noticed and felt by everything around us, not just by ourselves. When it goes, it is like the "distance on the look of death." This is a haunting image, and suggests that the light is somehow connected to death or mortality.
Themes
One of the central themes of "There's a certain slant of light" is the idea of mortality and the transience of life. The use of the word "winter" in the first line suggests that the poem is set in a time when things are dying or decaying. The fact that the light is described as oppressive and weighty suggests that it is connected to this sense of decay and mortality. The final quatrain, with its suggestion of death, further reinforces this theme.
Another theme of the poem is the idea of the spiritual or divine. The use of the words "heavenly" and "imperial" suggest that the light is connected to something beyond our understanding, something that is divine or supernatural in nature. The fact that the light is sent to us from the air adds to this sense of mystery and otherworldliness.
Literary Devices
Dickinson uses a range of literary devices in "There's a certain slant of light" to convey her message. The repetition of the word "certain" in the first line creates a sense of mystery and intrigue, and invites the reader to pay attention to the poem. The comparison of the light to the "heft of cathedral tunes" in the second line is a metaphor that creates a sense of weight and oppressiveness.
The use of the phrase "heavenly hurt" in the second quatrain is an oxymoron that creates a sense of paradox and contradiction. The fact that the hurt is described as "heavenly" suggests that it is something divine or spiritual, but the fact that it is a hurt suggests that it is also painful or negative in some way.
The use of the phrase "internal difference" in the third line of the second quatrain is ambiguous, but it creates a sense of mystery and intrigue. The fact that the difference is internal suggests that it is something that is felt rather than seen, and the fact that it is a difference suggests that it is something significant or meaningful.
The use of the word "imperial" in the third quatrain creates a sense of grandeur and importance, and suggests that the affliction is something that is beyond our control. The fact that it is sent to us "of the Air" adds to the sense of mystery and otherworldliness.
Finally, the use of the image of death in the final quatrain is a powerful metaphor that reinforces the theme of mortality and transience. The fact that the light is connected to death suggests that it is something that is both beautiful and haunting, and that it has the power to inspire both awe and fear.
Conclusion
"There's a certain slant of light" is a hauntingly beautiful poem that is full of mystery and intrigue. Its use of literary devices, such as metaphor and oxymoron, creates a sense of paradox and contradiction that draws the reader in. Its themes of mortality and the divine add to its sense of mystery and otherworldliness, and create a poem that is both beautiful and haunting. Emily Dickinson's unique style of writing and use of punctuation make this poem a classic of American literature, and one that continues to intrigue and inspire readers to this day.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
There's a certain slant of light, written by Emily Dickinson, is a classic poem that has captured the hearts of many readers over the years. This poem is a perfect example of Dickinson's unique style of writing, which is characterized by its simplicity, depth, and emotional intensity. In this analysis, we will explore the meaning and significance of this poem, as well as its literary devices and themes.
The poem begins with the line, "There's a certain slant of light," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The word "certain" suggests that this slant of light is specific and unique, and the use of the word "slant" implies that it is not a direct or full light, but rather a partial or angled one. This slant of light is described as "Winter afternoons," which further emphasizes its cold and bleak nature.
The second line of the poem reads, "That oppresses, like the weight of cathedral tunes." This line is particularly interesting because it compares the slant of light to the weight of cathedral tunes. This comparison suggests that the slant of light has a powerful and oppressive effect on the speaker, much like the heavy and solemn music played in a cathedral. The use of the word "oppresses" also implies that the speaker is feeling a sense of heaviness or burden, which is likely related to the emotional tone of the poem.
The third line of the poem reads, "Heavenly hurt it gives us." This line is perhaps the most enigmatic in the entire poem, as it is not immediately clear what the speaker means by "heavenly hurt." However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that the speaker is describing a feeling of emotional pain or anguish that is somehow connected to the slant of light. The use of the word "heavenly" suggests that this pain is somehow divine or spiritual in nature, which adds to the overall sense of mystery and ambiguity in the poem.
The fourth line of the poem reads, "We can find no scar." This line is interesting because it suggests that the pain or hurt caused by the slant of light is not physical, but rather emotional or psychological. The use of the word "scar" implies that the speaker has looked for physical evidence of this pain, but has found none. This line also suggests that the pain caused by the slant of light is difficult to articulate or explain, which adds to the overall sense of mystery and ambiguity in the poem.
The fifth line of the poem reads, "But internal difference, where the meanings are." This line is perhaps the most important in the entire poem, as it suggests that the true meaning of the slant of light is not external, but rather internal. The use of the word "difference" implies that the slant of light has a transformative effect on the speaker, causing them to see the world in a new and different way. The phrase "where the meanings are" suggests that this transformation is related to the deeper meanings and truths of life, rather than superficial or surface-level observations.
The sixth and final line of the poem reads, "None may teach it - any - 'tis the seal despair." This line is particularly interesting because it suggests that the transformative effect of the slant of light is something that cannot be taught or learned, but rather must be experienced firsthand. The use of the word "seal" implies that this experience is somehow final or conclusive, and the use of the word "despair" suggests that it is not necessarily a positive or uplifting experience.
In terms of literary devices, There's a certain slant of light makes use of several key techniques that are characteristic of Dickinson's style. For example, the poem makes use of metaphor, as the slant of light is compared to the weight of cathedral tunes and the pain it causes is described as "heavenly hurt." The poem also makes use of repetition, as the phrase "There's a certain slant of light" is repeated twice in the first two lines of the poem. This repetition serves to emphasize the importance and significance of the slant of light, as well as to create a sense of rhythm and musicality in the poem.
In terms of themes, There's a certain slant of light explores several key ideas that are central to Dickinson's work. One of the most important themes in the poem is the idea of transformation, as the slant of light has a transformative effect on the speaker, causing them to see the world in a new and different way. Another important theme in the poem is the idea of emotional pain and suffering, as the slant of light causes the speaker to experience a sense of "heavenly hurt" that is difficult to articulate or explain. Finally, the poem explores the idea of the divine or spiritual, as the pain caused by the slant of light is described as "heavenly" and the transformative effect it has on the speaker is related to the deeper meanings and truths of life.
In conclusion, There's a certain slant of light is a classic poem that explores some of the most important themes and ideas in Emily Dickinson's work. Through its use of metaphor, repetition, and enigmatic language, the poem creates a sense of mystery and ambiguity that invites readers to explore its deeper meanings and truths. Whether read as a meditation on transformation, emotional pain, or the divine, this poem is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who reads it.
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