Which of the following inferences is most strongly supported by the following stanza taken from 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

Correct option is C

Explanation:

The correct inference is Option 3, as the poem uses the image of lightning to convey how the truth can be overwhelming, much like the sudden and bright nature of lightning. In this stanza, the poet (Emily Dickinson) suggests that truth is like lightning: too bright and intense for human delight and understanding. This brightness can be overwhelming to the human senses, much like how a sudden flash of lightning is jarring to the eyes. The poet goes on to explain that the truth must be revealed gradually ("the Truth must dazzle gradually"), so that it can be processed and understood in a more gentle manner, much as lightning’s impact would be less jarring if it were spread out more slowly.

This comparison of truth to lightning creates ambiguity, as lightning is often associated with instantaneous, overwhelming power—a fitting metaphor for how the truth, if revealed all at once, could be equally overwhelming and difficult to absorb. The gradual approach to truth, then, serves to make it more digestible and less likely to cause harm.
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Information Booster:

Emily Dickinson (1830–1886) is regarded as one of the most important American poets in literary history. She was known for her unconventional style, which often included dashes and brevity. Her poetry typically explores themes such as death, immortality, truth, nature, and human emotion.

- This poem, Tell all the truth but tell it slant, is one of Dickinson’s most philosophically charged poems, exploring how truth is perceived and processed by human beings.

- The poet suggests that truth, while essential, can be so overwhelming that it must be presented carefully, in a manner that is not too direct, but instead in a way that the audience can handle.

- The line "The Truth must dazzle gradually / Or every man be blind" presents a metaphor where the truth is likened to a bright light that, if revealed too suddenly, could cause blindness—a loss of understanding or ability to cope with its intensity.

- This metaphor underscores the complexity of truth and the necessity of delivering it with restraint.

- The central message of the poem is that truth, in its raw, pure form, can be too much for humans to handle at once.

- The poet uses the image of lightning to show that truth, if exposed too suddenly, may have damaging effects. Instead, the truth must be told slant, meaning that it should be revealed in ways that are gentler, gradual, and less overwhelming.

- Dickinson suggests that the powerful nature of truth needs to be carefully managed to prevent it from having a negative impact.

- The metaphor of lightning is meant to convey the shock and intensity of truth that can affect individuals, particularly when they are not ready for it.