There's a Certain Slant of Light

By Emily Dickinson (1830–1886)

Context

• Emily Dickinson was an American poet who wrote many poems during her life, but she didn't want them to be published while she was alive. She preferred to keep her work private, which connects to the themes of isolation and introspection found in many of her poems. "__There's a Certain Slant of Light" is about how a specific kind of light in winter makes the speaker feel a deep, internal pain. The poem also reflects Dickinson's struggle with her religious beliefs, as she was raised in a strict religious environment but later chose to stop attending church. The poem uses the imagery of light to explore themes of despair and the human soul's search for meaning.

The Poem

There's a certain Slant of light,

← Sibilance

Winter Afternoons –

That oppresses, like the Heft

← Imagery

Of Cathedral Tunes –

Heavenly Hurt, it gives us –

← Metaphor

We can find no scar,

But internal difference,

Where the Meanings, are –

None may teach it – Any –

'Tis the Seal Despair –

← Metaphor & Auditory imagery

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

← Juxtaposition

On the look of Death –

5 Quotes + Analysis to Achieve a Grade 9

1. Language device = Sibilance."There's a certain Slant of light" Analysis: The "Slant of light" refers to the angle of sunlight in winter afternoons. It's described as "certain" because it has a unique effect on the speaker, causing them to feel a heavy, oppressive sadness. The light becomes a metaphor for the moments in life that bring emotional pain or spiritual questioning.

2. Language device = Imagery."Oppresses, like the Heft / Of Cathedral Tunes" Analysis: The word "oppresses" suggests that the light is overwhelming and heavy, much like the deep, echoing sound of "Cathedral Tunes." The comparison to church music adds a religious tone to the poem, implying that this sadness is tied to spiritual struggles. The heaviness of the light mirrors the weight of the emotions the speaker feels.

3. Language device = "Heavenly Hurt, it gives us – / We can find no scar" Analysis: The phrase "Heavenly Hurt" is an oxymoron that shows how the pain the speaker feels is both profound and invisible. It's "heavenly" because it feels otherworldly or spiritual, but it "gives us" a pain that leaves "no scar," meaning the pain is internal and emotional rather than physical. This highlights how some struggles are deeply felt but not easily seen by others.

4. Language device = Metaphor & Auditory imagery."'Tis the Seal Despair – / An imperial affliction" Analysis: Describing the feeling as a "Seal Despair" suggests that this emotion is permanent and unchangeable, like a royal seal on a document. The word "imperial" makes the sadness sound like a powerful force that controls the speaker's emotions. This shows how overwhelming and inescapable this feeling of despair can be.

5. Language device = "When it goes, 'tis like the Distance / On the look of Death" Analysis: The poem ends with a comparison between the disappearance of the light and the "Distance" seen in the eyes of someone facing death. This creates a haunting image, suggesting that the absence of this light brings a sense of emptiness and finality, similar to the approach of death. It reinforces the theme of the poem, where light and darkness are connected to life and death.

Form

• Hymn-like Structure:
  • The poem is written in quatrains (four-line stanzas) with a rhythm and rhyme scheme similar to that found in hymns. This structure supports the religious undertone of the poem and reinforces the connection between the light and spiritual experiences.

Structure

• Dashes**:**
  • Dickinson uses dashes throughout the poem to break up the flow of the text, creating pauses that reflect the speaker's fragmented and troubled thoughts. The dashes also suggest that there is much left unsaid, reflecting the difficulty in fully expressing the depth of the speaker's emotions.
• Reversed Syntax:
  • In line 5, Dickinson uses an unusual word order ("Heavenly Hurt, it gives us") to create a sense of discomfort and unease. This reflects the struggle the speaker has in processing and communicating their feelings.
• Circular Structure:
  • The poem opens with the image of the oppressive light and ends with a darker note, where the absence of light is associated with death. This circular structure suggests that the feelings of despair and isolation are ongoing, and only end with death.

Example Paragraph for a Grade 9 Answer:

In "There's a Certain Slant of Light," Dickinson uses the imagery of winter light to convey a deep sense of despair. The "Slant of light" is described as something that "oppresses, like the Heft / Of Cathedral Tunes," suggesting that it brings a heavy, almost suffocating feeling, much like the weight of religious music. The "Heavenly Hurt" that the light causes is a pain that leaves "no scar," indicating that it's an internal, emotional struggle rather than a physical one. Dickinson's use of dashes throughout the poem breaks up the text, mirroring the fragmented and troubled nature of the speaker's thoughts. By the end of the poem, the light is compared to the "Distance / On the look of Death," reinforcing the connection between this oppressive feeling and the approach of death, highlighting how the speaker's despair feels inescapable.