There's a certain Slant of light: Plot – A Level English Language and Literature OCR Revision

There’s a certain Slant of light: Plot

The poem begins with the speaker describing a slant of light that hits every winter afternoon.
This light is typically depressing to the speaker, giving off a feeling of despair and isolation, and oppressive like “the Heft Of Cathedral Tunes”.
This particular slant of light is different, and although it still holds a heavy, oppressive feeling, it is somewhat sharper, suggestive of either revelation or rebirth.
As the light disappears and the winter evening starts to fall, all the grief seems to remain and descend upon the speaker’s soul, intensifying their feelings of despair.
The speaker implies that this slant of light feels like the weight of the divine, from the mention of cathedral tunes and heavenly hurt.

Dickinson uses simplicity in her descriptions, using everyday elements in her surroundings. The poem begins with a simple element of nature “a certain slant of light”, to imply something far more expansive, profound and personal.
The idea of nature personified in despair and loneliness can be seen with the phrase “When it comes, the Landscape listens – Shadows – hold their breath”.

Dickinson explores the space between the human and divine with this poem as she often does in her work.
It is symbolised by “cathedral tunes” and “heavenly hurt”, suggesting the contradiction between a vast, universal power or presence and an individual’s feeble attempts to connect with it.

Light, in most conventional readings, is the symbol of truth, understanding or revelation.
However for Dickinson’s speaker in this poem, the light seems to contradict these conventional expectations, giving off oppression and doom.

The poem thus lends itself to numerous interpretations based on how one reads the light: as oppressive or as revealing.
Nonetheless, it revolves about the profound impact of this slant of light and its emotional, psychological effect on the speaker.