'Tell all the Truth but tell it slant' by Emily Dickinson
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
1129
Tell all the Truth but tell it slant—
Success in Circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth's superb surprise
As Lightning to the Children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind—
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Elusive Truth in Emily Dickinson's "Tell all the Truth but tell it slant"
Emily Dickinson, one of the most enigmatic and reclusive poets in American literature, penned a short but profound poem that challenges our traditional notions of truth-telling. "Tell all the Truth but tell it slant" is a masterful piece of poetry that explores the complex relationship between honesty and artistry, and the elusive nature of truth itself. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this classic poem, and how it resonates with our contemporary world.
The Poem: "Tell all the Truth but tell it slant"
Tell all the Truth but tell it slant—
Success in Circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth’s superb surprise
As Lightning to the Children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind—
At first glance, "Tell all the Truth but tell it slant" may seem like a simple piece of advice on how to communicate effectively. However, as with many of Dickinson's poems, the simplicity belies a deeper complexity. The poem consists of four quatrains, each with a distinct rhythmic pattern, and a rhyme scheme that varies from ABCB to AAB in the final stanza. The structure of the poem reflects its central theme of circuitousness and gradual revelation.
The opening line, "Tell all the Truth but tell it slant," sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker advises that telling the truth is necessary, but that it should be done indirectly. The word "slant" suggests an oblique angle, a deviation from the straight and narrow. This is reinforced by the second line, "Success in Circuit lies," which implies that the truth must be approached in a roundabout way to be effective.
The third and fourth lines of the first stanza, "Too bright for our infirm Delight/The Truth’s superb surprise," suggest that the unadulterated truth is too overwhelming for our fragile human nature. The word "infirm" suggests weakness, vulnerability, and perhaps even cowardice. The "superb surprise" of the truth is too much for us to bear, like a sunbeam that blinds us with its brightness.
The second stanza introduces a metaphor that continues throughout the poem: "As Lightning to the Children eased/With explanation kind." The speaker compares the truth to lightning, which is both dangerous and awe-inspiring. However, like a parent who reassures a child that lightning is not as scary as it seems, the truth must be presented with a gentle explanation. This suggests that the truth is not only difficult to bear but also difficult to comprehend.
The third stanza is the most enigmatic of the four, with its paradoxical statement, "The Truth must dazzle gradually/Or every man be blind." The word "dazzle" suggests a sudden burst of light, but the adverb "gradually" suggests something more subtle and gradual. The paradox is resolved in the second line, which implies that the truth must be revealed gradually, or else it will be too much for us to handle. The image of blindness suggests that, without the gradual revelation of the truth, we will be overwhelmed and unable to see clearly.
The final stanza contains a twist in the rhyme scheme, with the second and fourth lines rhyming with each other instead of the first and third. This is a subtle but significant deviation from the pattern established in the previous stanzas, suggesting that the "slant" approach to truth-telling requires flexibility and adaptability. The final lines of the poem reinforce the central theme: "Or every man be blind." The truth must be approached indirectly, with care and subtlety, or else we will be blinded by its brilliance.
Interpretation: The Elusive Truth
"Tell all the Truth but tell it slant" is a poem that speaks to the heart of the human condition. We are creatures who crave the truth, but we are also fragile and vulnerable beings who can be overwhelmed by it. The metaphor of lightning is particularly apt in this context. Lightning is a natural phenomenon that is both beautiful and terrifying, and the speaker suggests that the truth is similarly complex.
The paradox in the third stanza is the key to understanding the poem's message. The truth must "dazzle" us, but it must also be revealed gradually. This suggests that the truth is not a fixed and immutable concept but a fluid and elusive one. The truth must be approached from different angles, and its meaning will change depending on the perspective from which it is viewed.
The poem's message is particularly relevant in our contemporary world, where truth and falsehood are constantly in conflict. The rise of "fake news" and "alternative facts" has made it more difficult than ever to discern the truth. The poem suggests that the truth can never be revealed in a straightforward manner but must be approached indirectly, with care and subtlety.
The metaphor of circuitousness is also significant. The truth cannot be reached by a direct and linear path but must be approached in a circuitous manner. This suggests that the truth is not a destination but a journey, a process of discovery that requires patience and persistence.
Finally, the poem suggests that the truth is not only difficult to bear but also difficult to comprehend. The metaphor of lightning suggests that the truth is a force of nature, something that cannot be fully understood or controlled. The truth must be approached with a sense of humility and awe, like a child discovering the world for the first time.
Conclusion: The Art of Telling the Truth Slant
"Tell all the Truth but tell it slant" is a poem that challenges our traditional notions of truth-telling. The poem suggests that the truth is an elusive and complex concept that cannot be revealed in a straightforward manner. The metaphor of lightning is particularly apt in this context, suggesting that the truth is both beautiful and terrifying, and that it requires a sense of awe and humility to comprehend.
The poem's message is particularly relevant in our contemporary world, where truth and falsehood are constantly in conflict. The poem suggests that the truth can never be revealed in a straightforward manner but must be approached indirectly, with care and subtlety. The truth must be approached in a circuitous manner, as a process of discovery that requires patience and persistence.
"Tell all the Truth but tell it slant" is a masterful piece of poetry that explores the complex relationship between honesty and artistry, and the elusive nature of truth itself. Emily Dickinson's poetic genius lies in her ability to capture the essence of the human condition in a few short lines of verse. This poem is a testament to her skill and her insight into the mysteries of life.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Emily Dickinson’s poem “Tell all the Truth but tell it slant” is a classic piece of literature that has been studied and analyzed by scholars for decades. The poem is a complex and layered work that explores the nature of truth and the ways in which it can be communicated. In this article, we will take a closer look at the poem and explore its themes, structure, and meaning.
The poem begins with the line “Tell all the Truth but tell it slant,” which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the work. The speaker is urging the reader to be truthful, but to do so in a way that is indirect or oblique. This is an interesting paradox, as truth is often associated with clarity and directness. However, Dickinson is suggesting that there are times when the truth can be too overwhelming or difficult to handle, and that it may be necessary to approach it in a more subtle way.
The second line of the poem reads, “Success in Circuit lies.” This line is a bit more cryptic, but it suggests that there is a certain circuitousness or circularity to the way in which truth is communicated. The word “success” implies that there is a goal or objective in mind, and that the circuitous route is necessary in order to achieve that goal. This could be interpreted as a reference to the way in which truth is often obscured or hidden, and that it takes a certain amount of skill or finesse to uncover it.
The third and fourth lines of the poem read, “Too bright for our infirm Delight / The Truth’s superb surprise.” Here, Dickinson is suggesting that the truth can be too overwhelming or intense for us to handle. The phrase “infirm Delight” implies that we are not strong enough to handle the full force of the truth, and that it may be necessary to approach it in a more indirect way. The phrase “superb surprise” suggests that the truth is something that is awe-inspiring and magnificent, but also potentially dangerous.
The fifth and sixth lines of the poem read, “As Lightning to the Children eased / With explanation kind.” Here, Dickinson is using a metaphor to describe the way in which the truth can be communicated. Lightning is a powerful and awe-inspiring force of nature, but it can also be terrifying to children. The speaker is suggesting that the truth is similar in this way, and that it may be necessary to explain it in a kind and gentle way in order to make it more accessible.
The seventh and eighth lines of the poem read, “The Truth must dazzle gradually / Or every man be blind.” This is perhaps the most famous line of the poem, and it encapsulates the central theme of the work. The speaker is suggesting that the truth must be revealed gradually, in a way that is not too overwhelming or intense. If the truth is revealed all at once, it can be too much for us to handle, and we may be blinded by its brilliance.
The structure of the poem is also worth noting. It is written in four quatrains, or four-line stanzas, with an ABAB rhyme scheme. This gives the poem a sense of symmetry and balance, which is appropriate given the theme of the work. The use of enjambment, or the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next, also gives the poem a sense of fluidity and movement.
In terms of meaning, the poem can be interpreted in a number of different ways. On one level, it can be seen as a commentary on the nature of truth and the ways in which it can be obscured or hidden. The speaker is suggesting that the truth is something that is difficult to handle, and that it may be necessary to approach it in a more indirect way in order to make it more accessible.
On another level, the poem can be seen as a commentary on the nature of communication itself. The speaker is suggesting that there are times when it may be necessary to be indirect or oblique in order to get a message across. This could be interpreted as a commentary on the way in which language is often used to obscure or hide the truth, or as a commentary on the way in which people often use euphemisms or other indirect language to avoid difficult or uncomfortable topics.
Overall, “Tell all the Truth but tell it slant” is a complex and layered work that explores a number of different themes and ideas. It is a testament to Dickinson’s skill as a poet that she is able to convey such a nuanced and complex message in just eight lines. Whether you interpret the poem as a commentary on truth, communication, or something else entirely, there is no denying that it is a powerful and thought-provoking work that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor Recommended Sites
Gitops: Git operations managementNetworking Place: Networking social network, similar to linked-in, but for your business and consulting services
Datalog: Learn Datalog programming for graph reasoning and incremental logic processing.
Roleplay Community: Wiki and discussion board for all who love roleplaying
Code Checklist - Readiness and security Checklists: Security harden your cloud resources with these best practice checklists
Recommended Similar Analysis
TO DEATH by Robert Herrick analysisOn The Beach At Night, Alone by Walt Whitman analysis
To Helen by Edgar Allan Poe analysis
Tree at My Window by Robert Lee Frost analysis
I like to see it lap the Miles by Emily Dickinson analysis
I gave myself to Him by Emily Dickinson analysis
The Soul selects her own Society by Emily Dickinson analysis
For Anne Gregory by William Butler Yeats analysis
The Bishop Orders His Tomb At Saint Praxed's Church by Robert Browning analysis
The Legacy by John Donne analysis