Home › Glossary › Letter C

Curiosity

Psychology
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

Desire to know or learn; inquisitive wonder that drives exploration.

Detailed Definition
Curiosity propels poetic inquiry, from scientific observation to metaphysical speculation. It appears through questions, digressions, and fresh perception, turning the mundane into mystery. Poets celebrate curiosity as an antidote to despair, yet also warn of its dangers—Pandora's box, forbidden knowledge. It fosters ekphrasis, nature poetry, and philosophical verse, inviting readers to share the thrill of discovery and the ache of the unknown.
Example
Example in poetry:
Curiosity in Shel Silverstein's "A Light in the Attic" captures the excitement of investigating the unknown; Jeannie Kirby's "I Wonder" celebrates the inquisitive spirit of childhood; Bridget Magee's "My Curiosity" describes curiosity as needling and poking the mind; The poem "Curiosity" by Justin Reamer explores why we want to know; "Curious George Meets Loren Goodman" celebrates the spirit of exploration; In "Enigmas," curiosity becomes a kind of gambling with wonder.
Additional Notes
Curiosity propels poetic inquiry from scientific observation to metaphysical speculation, appearing through questions, digressions, and fresh perception that turns the mundane into the marvelous. Poets celebrate curiosity as an antidote to despair, yet also warn of its dangers—Pandora's box, forbidden knowledge. The term is closely related to wonder but implies an active seeking rather than passive awe. Teaching tip: have students identify poems structured around questions or exploratory journeys. Curiosity fosters ekphrastic poetry, nature poetry, and philosophical verse, inviting readers to share the thrill of discovery and the ache of the unknown.
Also Known As
Inquisitiveness wonder exploration questioning interest
Skip to main content