'Tell All The Truth But Tell It Slant'

her belief that discovery in uncertain topics are important , ''Tell all the truth but tell it slant '' , Dickinson uses the image of lightning to create ambiguity by comparing the effects of truth to the effects of lightning. ''Eccentric as New England weather the stiff wind of her mind, stinging or gentle, blew two half imagined lovers off. Yet legend wont explain the sheer sanity of vision, the serious mischief of language, the economy of pain''. Dickinson manipulates poetic and literary devices such as imagery to exemplify her exploration of such uncanny subject matter and express its essential importance in her writings. In Dickinson's poem '' Tell all truth but tell it slant '' Dickinson uses the image of lightning to create ambiguity by comparing the effects of truth to the effects of lightning: ''Tell all truth but tell it slant, success in circuit lies, too bright for our infirm delight, the truth's superb surprise , …show more content…
However, as Dickinson characterizes lightening to equate truth to a destructive force of nature, it also allows the reader to understand the parallel of destruction between the comparison of the two uncanny subject matters. This analogy Dickinson has created creates ambiguous meaning in her poem because it supports contradictory arguments. On the one hand, if the truth is presented gradually, it can be controlled and will no longer terrify man, but, on the other hand, lightning can never be controlled and man will always fear its destructive nature. Dickinson, it seems, is too deliberate to use imagery , and is likely attempting to explain truth through the numerous interpretations of lightning. Although her use of imagery is prominent, her use of diction is also a powerful tool the Dickinson so vigorously used. Her poems often contained both formal and informal usage of