Emily Dickinsons Tell All the Truth but Tell It Slant...

An explication of Emily Dickinson’s â€Å"Tell all the Truth but tell it slant-† brings to light the overwhelming theme of how one should tell the truth. It also illuminates the development of the extended metaphor of comparing truth to light. From the very beginning of the poem, the speaker is instructing on the best way to tell the truth. Dickinson, through a use of a specific technique of rhyming, literary elements, and different forms of figurative language, establishes the importance of not telling the truth all at once. Alliteration is a key aspect to how the reader experiences the poem; it especially gives interest toward alliteration of the letter T. This alliteration begins in the very first line â€Å"Tell all the Truth but tell it†¦show more content†¦Dickinson is by no means stating that we should keep the truth completely hidden; however, she is quickly asserting her opinion of how the truth needs to be told. In telling the truth one must slant or hold back from embellishing all of the details of that particular truth. The ensuing line, â€Å"Success in Circuit lies† (1.2), parallels the first lines’ slant with a curvature of a circuit. A circuit goes perfectly around an area eventually returning back to the same spot. Dickinson conveys that only certain details should be let out, eventually giving you the truth as a whole. Also the words chosen in this line seem have reason to be grouped together. The word â€Å"lies† (1.2) is paired within a sentence with the word â€Å"Success† (1.2), giving the connection that lies may be needed to obtain success. The poem is trying to point out that truth and lies both can become truth, if they are presented in the correct circuit. The third line, â€Å"Too bright for our infirm Delight† (1.3), uses a metaphor to compare truth to light. This metaphor is full of imagery, associating truth to something that stimulates one’s sense of sight. Somet hing that is too bright hurts the eyes, thus the metaphor conveys that telling the truth in its entirety can at times be painful. Finally, the last line of this stanza, â€Å"The Truth’s superb surprise† (1.4), personifies the truth as having the ability to give a surprise. A