Name_______________________________
Date___________________
Tell all the Truth but tell it slant—
1. According to the speaker in "Tell all the Truth but tell it slant—," how much of the truth should
be told?
2. What does the speaker mean by the expression "tell it slant"?
3. Do you agree that the truth often takes the form of a surprise?
4. Give an example of a metaphor from this poem.
5. Give an example of internal rhyme
6. What is the rhyme scheme for this poem?
7. Give an example of alliteration?
8. Is this poem lyric or narrative? Fixed or free?
9. This poem makes a connection to the sun. Think about the look and feel of the sun's light and
warmth at different times of day and under different weather condition. Write them in the chart
below.
EARLY MORNING
MIDDAY
EVENING
10. Based on what you know about the different positions of the sun at different seasons and times
of day, what is the significance of her use of the word slant?
11. Give an example of enjambment from the text.
Name_______________________________
Date___________________
1. What is the best way to paraphrase these lines from “Tell all the Truth but tell it slant—”?
As Lightning to the Children eased / With explanation kind / The Truth must dazzle gradually
A. Just as an explanation makes lightning less scary to children, so truth should be
explained gradually.
B. Lightning dazzles children, and the truth will dazzle them, too.
C. Truth is like an explanation of lightning to a child.
D. If the truth is told gradually, it can be as dangerous and scary to children as
lightning is.
2. In “Tell all the Truth but tell it slant—,” what does Dickinson mean when she says that
truth must be told at a “slant”?
A. People should lie.
B. Truth should be at an angle.
C. Truth should be told gently, not harshly.
D. People should be brutally honest.
3. According to Dickinson, what will happen if truth does not “dazzle gradually”?
A. People will become dishonest.
B. People will become blinded.
C. Lightning will strike.
D. Truth will slant.
4. In the central metaphor of “Tell all the Truth but tell it slant—,” truth is compared to
A. a rainstorm.
B. jewels.
C. children.
D. sunlight.