Reece’s Conversation Starter 8.4

For this conversation starter I would like to focus on the poem, ‘Tell all the truth but tell it slant’ (1263) as this poem stood out to me particularly for the poignancy of the first line. The poem starts by stating ‘Tell all the truth but tell it slant’ basically asking the reader to explain a certain truth from a different angle rather than just the traditional method of telling the truth in a blunt and straightforward fashion. Dickinson then explains in the second line that the truth will be more readily accepted this way, writing, ‘Success in circuit lies’. The following lines explain further why the different angle of approach works by stating that the ‘Truth’s superb surprise’ is ‘Too bright for our infirm Delight’ basically meaning that this way would soften the blow of the truth. The final four lines emphasise the truths shocking nature through the metaphor of it being compared to lightning through the lines, ‘As lightning to the Children…’ while the final three lines lines emphasise the importance of the gradual truth and the different angle, reading; ‘with explanation kind the truth must dazzle gradually or every man be blind-‘ meaning the gradual truth is important in not becoming blind to the truth.

Here is a copy of the poem:

Tell all the truth but tell it slant —
Success in Circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth’s superb surprise
As Lightning to the Children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind —