12 Questions
What is the main theme explored in the poem 'There's a certain Slant of light'?
The effect of the natural world on the human spirit
What is the function of the trochaic meter in the poem?
To add a sense of religious solemnity
What literary device is used to describe the 'certain Slant of light'?
Synaesthesia
What is the effect of the 'Heavenly Hurt' on the speaker?
It makes an internal difference
What is the significance of the word 'Seal' in the poem?
It represents a mark of authority
What is the purpose of the capitalisation of certain words in the poem?
To show the external forces the speaker finds oppressive
What is the effect of the 'certain Slant of light' on the speaker's soul?
It oppresses them
What is the temporal setting of the poem?
Winter afternoons
What is the significance of the ellipsis in the poem?
It creates a sense of disorientation
What is the speaker's attitude towards God in the poem?
The speaker feels abandoned by God
What is the effect of the light on the speaker's mood?
It dulls their senses and subdues their mood
What is the tone of the final stanza of the poem?
Morbid and ominous
Study Notes
Poem Analysis: "There's a certain Slant of light"
Themes and Ideas
- The poem explores the effect of the natural world on the human spirit
- It examines human suffering and the oppressive nature of religion
- Dickinson considers the internal impact of the external environment
Style and Structure
- The poem is written in trochaic meter, creating a heavy and oppressive atmosphere
- The use of synaesthesia allows the reader to experience the light and its sensation
- Capitalised words create an oppressive atmosphere, emphasising external forces
Imagery and Personification
- Dickinson personifies the landscape, projecting her feelings onto it
- The "certain Slant of light" is oppressive, like the weight of "Cathedral Tunes"
- The poem blurs the senses, combining sight, touch, and sound
Key Quotes and Analysis
- The opening lines introduce the oppressive "certain Slant of light" in "Winter Afternoons"
- The "Heavenly Hurt" suggests a cruel and brutal God, who does not offer comfort
- The poem highlights the difficulty of explaining why environments can affect our mood
- The use of ellipsis creates a disorientating atmosphere, suggesting the speaker's powerlessness
Symbolism and Meaning
- The "Seal Despair" represents the official mark of hopelessness
- The natural world is personified, intensifying the sense of hopelessness
- The final simile compares the departure of the light to "the look of Death"
Explore Emily Dickinson's poem 'There's a certain Slant of light', analyzing its themes, styles, and impact on the human spirit.
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