Emily Dickinsons Theres a Certain Slant of Light Essay

In Emily Dickinson’s lyrical poem â€Å"There’s a certain slant of light† she describes a revelation that is experienced on cold â€Å"winter afternoons.† Further she goes to say that this revelation of self â€Å"oppresses, like the Heft of Cathedral Tunes† and causes â€Å"Heavenly Hurt†, yet does not scare for it is neither exterior nor permanent. This only leaves it to be an internal feeling, and according to Dickinson that is where all the â€Å"Meanings† lie. There’s no way for this feeling to be explained, all that is known is that it is the â€Å"Seal Despair†, and an â€Å"imperial affliction†. These descriptions have a rather powerful connotation in showing the oppressive nature of his sentiment. There is an official mark of despair and an imperial affliction†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"That oppresses, like the Heft of Cathedral Tunes--.† It has a very heavy feeling derived from the word He ft as well as Cathedral Tunes. The Cathedral is considered sacred yet it is such as somber sound that it could easily affect a person’s mood. The use of paradoxes in the poem creates a sense of confusion about the true feelings about the revelation. â€Å"Heavenly Hurt† is both wonderful and horrible and suggests that the pain comes from the heavens. This suggestion is support in various situations throughout the poem. â€Å"Cathedral Tunes† and â€Å"Sent us of the Air† are the prime examples. It shows that this new realization may have been from a divine being therefore the reader is confused on it’s significance because it perhaps a type of gift. â€Å"Landscapes Listen Shadows—hold their breathe† is the personification used in the poem. This personification in the work shows that a divine being has arranged for this revelation to occur therefore, all of nature will halt to the being who has been selected to find this new piece of themselves. She also uses a bit of irony as well as parallel structure to set the scene in the poem. The revelation is brought out in the light of an wintery afternoon, this is the parallel yet it oppressive and dark which is ironic because the light brought with it such darkness. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Another form of figurative languageShow MoreRelatedEmily Dickinsons A Certain Slant of Light Analysis Essay1290 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿ 1 Emily Dickinson’s â€Å"There’s a certain Slant of light† In her poem, There’s a certain Slant of light, Emily Dickinson uses metaphors and imagery to convey the feeling of solemnity and despair at winter’s twilight. The slanted light that she sees, is a metaphor for her battle with depression. Anyone who is familiar with Dickinson’s background will have a better understanding of what she is trying to say in this poem. 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Emily Dickinson is one of the most renowned poets of herRead MoreAn Insight Into Dickinsons Portrayal of Death2173 Words   |  9 PagesAn Insight into Dickinsons Portrayal of Death Pale Death with impartial tread beats at the poor mans cottage door and at the palaces of kings. Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus, 65-8 B.C.) Throughout the history of literature, it has often been said that the poet is the poetry (Tate, Reactionary 9); that a poets life and experiences greatly influence the style and the content of their writing, some more than others. Emily Dickinson is one of the most renowned poets of her timeRead MoreBibliography Relation to Analysis of Emily Dickinson ´s Writings2048 Words   |  8 Pages Anderson, Paul W. The Metaphysical Mirth of Emily Dickinson. Georgia Review 20.1 Spring 1966): 72-83. Rpt. in Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism. Ed. Jessica Bomarito and Russel Whitaker. Vol. 171. Detroit: Gale, 2006. Literature Resource Center. Web. 14 Feb. 2014. 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