Analysis of “There’s a certain slant of light by Emily Dickinson” Commented [QAD1]: It is the name of the poem.

Use proper
capitalization.
Commented [QAD2]: Why the author is in quotation marks?

The poem: “There is a certain slant of light” commences with idea of a particular slant of light Commented [QAD3]: Why colon is used?
Commented [QAD4]: Incorrect name of the poem. The
that is very repressive during one winter afternoons. Additionally, its seriousness is said to be correct one is “There's a certain Slant of light"

linked with the cathedral tunes. In the poem, the writer contrasts the light as a form of heavenly

hurt that has no scars. It is difficult to substantiate what the light is like. Although the speaker

shows that the light is everywhere, which reveals some sort of misery from the air. On arrival of

the light the neighboring environment tends of listen and everything is still. Therefore when the

light goes there is some distance in it which is like death. This shows some linkage between the

natural and the inner self explaining also the truth about pain although it tells it indirectly. Below

are essential points depicted in Emily Dickinson’s poem, they include:

 Symbolism, imagery, and wordplay

 Cathedral Tunes

 The Speaker’s feeling

 Tough o meter

 Setting (winter season)

1. Symbols, imagery, and wordplay

There is a different notion based on the light in the poem, “There is a certain slant of light”.

Besides viewing light as something that brings anxiety and encouragement, the writer also sees

something that is oppressive with the ability of being informative. Therefore in Dickinson’s

poems there is a revelation of the good and bad aspect at the same time. Below is the analysis of

lines 1 to 14 of the poem which shows Symbols, imagery, and wordplay.

  Lines 1-2 – Since beginning the light according to the poem’s context lacks

sunlight and summertime. There is the winter afternoon, immediately it is noticed

that something is odd about the light.

 Lines 5-6 – The initial slant of the extended metaphor of light is transitioned to

being something that is very personal such as heavenly hurt. With the absurdity,

there is some sublime (heaven) constituting a little bit of hurt (earthly). It thus

exhibits both good and bad at the same time.

 Lines 7-8 – Here the light enlightens the speaker’s internal conflict. As results it

creates an internal difference which shows some meaning. The speaker’s sole

acuity is illuminated and some meaning is determined.

 Lines 13-14 – In these lines the poem creates some expectancy which the writer

reveals. The light tends to become more appealing and strange compared to other

stanzas in the poem.

2. Cathedral Tunes

In this part, it does not imply getting down the folks with some inspiring gospel music. This is

because the tunes oppress rather than uplift. As a result it is accompanied with a huge bulk that

the speaker of the poem cannot help it but be burdened. These tunes also impose some heavenly

hurt which shows the speaker’s inner difference. This is shown in the following lines of the

poem.

 Lines 3-4 – The light in line 3-4 are compared to the heft of the cathedral tunes

which reveals the weight that comes along with the tunes. Therefore it is noticed
 that there is a great linkage between the tunes and the light according to the

speaker.

 Lines 5-6 – There is a heavenly hurt shown by the light with the cathedral tunes

which have no blemish. The effect is unnoticed since the light and tunes show

some heaviness and oppression.

3. Speaker – In the poem the speaker tends to be keeping matters in a casual, informal, and

in a super-ornate language. This is shown with the complexity of the words such as

imperial affliction, and internal difference which underpins the conspiracy and ambiguity

in the poem without boxing the intangible “slant of light” into any unique explanations.

Additionally the use of contractions in the poem like “there’s” which implies that the

speaker’s articulation will not be formal or flowery. The speaker intends to prove that the

light is like natural to her without any forced efforts used. She also speaks in the poem in

first person by imagining light by using words like we and us. There is an omniscient

aspect with the speaker’s voice despite her speaking out in her own personal perspective.

4. Tough o meter - The writer Emily Dickinson maintains her tough o meter through her Commented [QAD5]: Why do you actually clarify? It is obvious
that she is a writer.

unusual grammar which is accompanied by some rather unusual thoughts. It makes us

think wide centered on the mystifying light in ways that are not properly explained. The

poem should be read out aloud few times in order to sense the speaker’s emotions which

aids in grasping the light’s vagueness.

5. Setting – Right, it is a winter afternoon and there is an odd light shining, however that is

the physical setting ending. In the second stanza the setting of the poem tends to be more

internalized and shows the speaker’s internal difference. Therefore, the slant of light

during the afternoon winters is more of a device which shows that speaker’s internal
conflict over meaning. Generally, the poems setting is based on being puzzling and

imperceptible as the light. If we were to recognize something considerable in the setting

then it would be the speaker’s sense of repression and desolation.

Commented [QAD6]: Where is the conclusion?