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Bardolatry

Concept
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Excessive veneration of Shakespeare as the supreme poetic genius, especially prominent in 19th-century literary culture.

Detailed Definition
Bardolatry denotes excessive or uncritical admiration for a poet—especially Shakespeare—elevated to near-divine status; coined by George Bernard Shaw, the term critiques the cultural deification of canonical authors, where reverence stifles critical engagement, turning literary figures into untouchable icons; in poetic discourse, bardolatry reflects tensions between tradition and innovation, authority and subversion, often prompting counter-movements that challenge established hierarchies.
Example
Example in poetry:
Bardolatry is excessive worship of Shakespeare; example: Victorian-era declarations like “Shakespeare is not of an age, but for all time”—elevating him to near-deity status.
Additional Notes
Excessive worship or veneration of bards, particularly Shakespeare. Critical term for uncritical adulation. Related to bardolater. Contrast with balanced literary appreciation. Be aware of implications when using term.
Also Known As
Bard worship Shakespeare idolatry poet veneration dramatic genius cult
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