Exploration of Truth in Emily Dickinson's "Tell All the Truth but Tell it Slant"
With the truth comes a distinct element of surprise. The remedy for which, Dickinson suggests, is to tell the truth with a kind explanation as one would explain to a child. It must be watered down and made simpler so that it dazzles gradually without blinding everyone. To illustrate these concepts, Dickinson uses a simile to compare the truth to lightning as seen by children. It is a frightening phenomenon and too bright for a child to understand. In the same way, the truth is also bright and startling. The telling of the truth should be with kind explanation "As lightning to the children eased." Through metaphor, Dickinson compares the truth to a bright light, a light that is too bright to delight us. An indirect or implied comparison that can be drawn is the comparison of the truth to the sun because it is a "bright" light that can "blind" us.
Dickinson's tone is playful and meaningful at the same time. Her chosen diction is fun and cheerful as seen in such word as success, bright, delight, superb surprise, kind and dazzle. However, the meaning behind her diction is contemplative and serious. Dickinson is suggesting that rather than telling the whole truth honestly and unadulterated, that it be told slant-altered to make it easier to hear so that it is less shocking. She implies this true meaning of what she suggests in the second line, "Success in Circuit lies." "Lies" carries the double meaning of where "success...lies" as an adverb and also that "circuit" or pattern "lies," as noun, brings "success." Dickinson's playful tone eases the boldness of what she suggests as a remedy to the "bright" and dazzling truth.
Dickinson's use of similes, metaphors, playful tone, and deeper meaning all combine to create the desired effect of her poem. It is a brief discourse on the concept of truth and how it should be told-"Tell all the Truth but tell it slant."
Sources:
Dickinson, Emily. Tell All the Truth but Tell it Slant.
Published by Erin Cross
I am a wife, blessed stay at home mom, and Follower of Christ. I use my extra time to create crafts for my Etsy Store http://www.CrosStitching.etsy.com. I also like to write on my blog http://erinsnewleaf.bl... View profile
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