Welcome, young poets and curious minds, to a fascinating journey into the heart of a truly remarkable poem. Today, we unravel the mysteries and profound beauty of Emily Dickinson’s “There’s a Certain Slant of Light.” Prepare to be amazed by how a few lines can capture such deep feelings and vivid images. Let us begin by reading the poem together.
There’s a certain slant of light
Winter afternoons—
That oppresses, like the heft
Of cathedral tunes—
Heavenly hurt, it gives us
We can find no scar
But internal difference—
Where the Meanings, are—
None may teach it—Any—
’Tis the Seal Despair—
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
On the look of Death—
Unveiling “There’s a Certain Slant of Light”: A Summary
Emily Dickinson’s “There’s a Certain Slant of Light” is a deeply moving poem that explores a very specific kind of sorrow. It is not just about feeling sad, but about a unique, almost physical sensation of grief that arrives with a particular kind of light on winter afternoons. This poem helps us understand how beauty can sometimes bring a profound, spiritual pain.
The Poem’s Central Idea
The core message of this poem revolves around an indescribable, internal experience. It describes a winter light that feels heavy and oppressive, bringing a “Heavenly hurt.” This pain leaves no visible mark, no “scar,” but instead creates an “internal difference” within a person. It is a feeling that cannot be taught or easily explained, a profound sense of “Despair” that feels both grand and inescapable, as if sent from the very air itself.
Noteworthy Aspects of the Poem
One of the most striking aspects of this poem is its ambiguity. Dickinson does not tell us *why* this light brings such sorrow. Instead, she presents it as an atmospheric, almost supernatural phenomenon. The poem suggests that even the natural world, the “Landscape” and “Shadows,” seems to acknowledge and participate in this profound feeling. The ending leaves us with a chilling image, comparing the departure of this light and feeling to the “Distance on the look of Death,” emphasizing its lasting and impactful nature.
A Deep Dive into Literary Devices in “There’s a Certain Slant of Light”
Emily Dickinson was a master of language, and in this poem, she uses many literary devices to create its haunting and powerful effect. These techniques help us feel the poem’s emotions and understand its deeper meanings.
Imagery: Painting Pictures with Words
Imagery is all about creating vivid pictures and sensations in our minds. Dickinson’s poem is rich with it, allowing us to almost see and feel what she describes. Consider these opening lines:
There’s a certain slant of light
Winter afternoons—
That oppresses, like the heft
Of cathedral tunes—
Here, the “slant of light” is not just something we see, but something that “oppresses,” suggesting a heavy, almost physical weight. This visual image is immediately connected to a sound, the “heft of cathedral tunes,” which makes the feeling even more profound. It is as if the light itself carries the immense, solemn weight of sacred music, creating a powerful sensory experience for the reader.
Simile: Comparing the Uncomparable
A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two different things using “like” or “as.” Dickinson uses a powerful simile to help us grasp the feeling of the light:
That oppresses, like the heft
Of cathedral tunes—
By comparing the oppressive feeling of the light to the “heft of cathedral tunes,” Dickinson helps us understand an abstract emotion through a concrete, sensory experience. We can imagine the deep, resonating sound of church music filling a vast space, pressing down on us. This comparison suggests that the sorrow brought by the light is not only heavy but also grand, spiritual, and perhaps even beautiful in its intensity.
Metaphor: Hidden Meanings
A metaphor is a figure of speech that directly states one thing *is* another, without using “like” or “as,” to suggest a deeper meaning. While subtle, the entire poem can be understood as an extended metaphor. The “certain slant of light” itself functions as a metaphor for a specific state of mind, a feeling of profound, quiet sorrow or spiritual despair. It is not just a literal light, but a representation of an internal emotional experience. The light becomes the feeling, making the abstract concrete.
Heavenly hurt, it gives us
We can find no scar
But internal difference—
Where the Meanings, are—
Here, the “Heavenly hurt” is a metaphor for a pain that feels divinely inflicted, a spiritual wound that leaves no physical mark but profoundly changes one’s inner world. The light, therefore, is not merely a visual phenomenon but a vessel for this deep, internal transformation.
Personification: Giving Life to the Lifeless
Personification is when human qualities or actions are given to inanimate objects or abstract ideas. Dickinson brilliantly personifies the natural world in the poem’s final stanza:
When it comes, the Landscape listens—
Shadows hold their breath—
The “Landscape” cannot literally “listen,” nor can “Shadows” literally “hold their breath.” By attributing these human actions, Dickinson makes the natural world seem alive and deeply affected by the arrival of this particular light and its accompanying sorrow. This suggests that the feeling is so powerful, so pervasive, that even nature itself acknowledges its presence, making the experience feel universal and inescapable.
Alliteration: The Music of Words
Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in words close together. This technique adds a musical quality to the poem and emphasizes certain phrases. Notice the repetition of the “h” sound here:
Heavenly hurt, it gives us
The gentle, breathy “h” sound in “Heavenly hurt” draws our attention to this crucial phrase, making the concept of a divinely inspired pain resonate more deeply. It adds a subtle rhythm and a sense of solemnity to the line.
Exploring Poetic Devices in “There’s a Certain Slant of Light”
Beyond literary devices, poets also use specific poetic structures and techniques to shape their work. Dickinson’s choices here are deliberate and contribute significantly to the poem’s unique voice.
Stanza Structure: Quatrains
The poem is structured in four-line stanzas, known as quatrains. This traditional form provides a sense of order and control, even when dealing with such an overwhelming and intangible emotion. Each quatrain acts like a small, self-contained thought or image, building upon the previous one to create a complete picture of the experience. This measured structure allows the reader to absorb each profound idea fully before moving on.
Rhythm and Meter: Common Meter
Dickinson often employed a rhythm known as common meter, which is frequently found in hymns and ballads. This meter typically alternates lines of eight syllables with lines of six syllables. Let us look at the first stanza:
There’s a certain slant of light (8 syllables)
Winter afternoons— (6 syllables)
That oppresses, like the heft (8 syllables)
Of cathedral tunes— (6 syllables)
This consistent, almost song-like rhythm creates a steady, melancholic pace for the poem. It is both soothing and haunting, drawing the reader into the poem’s contemplative mood. While not perfectly strict throughout, this underlying rhythm gives the poem a familiar, yet deeply resonant, musicality.
Dickinson’s Punctuation: The Power of the Dash
One of Dickinson’s most distinctive poetic devices is her unique use of the dash. While we are avoiding dashes in this article, it is important to understand their function in her original work. In “There’s a Certain Slant of Light,” dashes often create pauses, connect disparate ideas, or emphasize a sudden shift in thought. They force the reader to slow down, to consider the weight of each phrase, and to experience the poem’s fragmented yet deeply connected ideas. For example, in the line “Winter afternoons—”, the dash creates a moment of suspension, allowing the image to linger before the oppressive feeling is introduced.
The Lasting Impression of “There’s a Certain Slant of Light”
Through her masterful use of evocative imagery, precise language, and innovative poetic techniques, Emily Dickinson explores the complexities of sorrow, spirituality, and the enduring power of the natural world. This poem continues to resonate with readers because it taps into a universal experience, the quiet melancholy that sometimes lies beneath the surface of everyday life. It teaches us that some of our deepest feelings are often the hardest to explain, yet they shape us in profound ways. What a truly remarkable poem to ponder and appreciate!