Blog #8 assignment: Poems

Reader response criticism is a good way to analyze the poem "Tell all the Truth but tell it slant" by Emily Dickinson. The poem can be seen in different lights, depending on who is reading it. Some people may agree with Dickinson's opinion that people should use tact whenever telling the truth, or they could disagree and think that it is better to be blunt. I feel that there is a middle ground. Depending on the situation it could be best to use some tact, while in others it may be fine to be upfront. It seems like in the poem, Emily Dickinson is saying that all truths are bad and should not be told in full detail, because the full truth is too much to handle. However, not all truths suffer consequences when told. What if the truth was something good that someone wanted to hear in full, it is doubtful that there would be any consequences to not telling this truth "slant." Since the author is speaking through her opinion on this situation, it is good for the reader to also express their opinion on the topic when reading the poem. This is why reader response criticism is a good way to analyze this poem.