Home › Glossary › Letter C

Cartographic structure

Structure
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

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

A poetic structure that mimics or evokes a map, using spatial arrangement, directional cues, or geographic references to guide the reader’s journey.

Detailed Definition
Cartographic structure organizes a poem according to spatial or geographic logic rather than linear chronology, using place, direction, or topography as primary organizing principles; it often maps emotional or cultural terrain through literal or metaphorical landscapes, inviting readers to navigate meaning spatially.
Example
Example in poetry:
Cartographic structure: Poem organized like a map, with spatial or directional logic—e.g., in Derek Walcott’s “A Map of Europe,” stanzas correspond to regions, blending geography and memory.
Additional Notes
Cartographic structure maps physical or psychological space within the poem—often using directional cues or place names to orient the reader.
Also Known As
Map-based structure geographical form spatial organization territorial design
Skip to main content