Emily Dickinson 258 Theres a certain Slant of light On Winter Afternoons That oppresses like the haft Of Cathedral T unes Heavenly hurt it gives us We can find no scar ID: 262632
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Slide1
There’s a certain Slant of light
Emily DickinsonSlide2
258.
There's a certain
Slant
of light,
On
Winter Afternoons-
That oppresses, like the
haft
Of
Cathedral
T
unes-
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-
Slide3
There's a certain Slant of light,
On
W
inter Afternoons-That oppresses, like the HeftOf Cathedral Tunes-
Both of these perhaps suggest informality
Not absolutely clear what she means – is it the way light appears through the clouds or is it the impression the light gives?
Initially could be positive but…
Some versions use the word ‘heft’ – meaning weight.
Light is often seen as uplifting in poetry…but not here.Slide4
Heavenly Hurt it gives us-
We can find no scar,
But internal difference-
Where the Meanings are-
Continuation of religious imagery…but Heaven is not supposed to ‘hurt’??
Maybe suggests a contrast – light can be beautiful but can also dazzle us.
Perhaps the light is a metaphor for internal conflict?
What are ‘meanings’? Is it Dickinson’s understanding of certain feelings/issues?
Perhaps she is considering the different ways in which people see things?Slide5
None may teach
it-Any-
'Tis
the seal, Despair,-An imperial afflictionSent us of the Air-
Suggests it is everywhere
Some versions have ‘anything’. Could this refer to the fact that different people suffer from different ‘despairs’ ?
It is difficult for anyone to prepare for the ‘Meanings’ as it is so difficult to define.
What has created this ‘despair’? The light?
Sums up the ‘light’, the ‘hurt’ and the ‘despair’.
Refers back to the ‘light’? Links the ‘outside’ (the light) with the inside (despair).Slide6
When it comes, the Landscape listens-
Shadows-hold their breath-
When it goes, 'tis like the distance
On the look of Death-
The amount of dashes maybe links to holding breath?
There is a real sense of silence here.
Landscape is personified – like Dickinson, it is affected by the light.
T
here is a sense of mystery here. What will happen?
When the light leaves, it leaves an emptiness as does death.
The dash at the end gives us an equal sense of emptiness – we feel the poem should continue elsewhere