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Deluge

World Religion
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

A great flood, specifically the flood described in the Book of Genesis and other ancient mythologies, sent by God as a judgment.

Detailed Definition
The Deluge is a universal archetype of divine wrath, purification, and a fresh start for creation. In poetry, the image of the flood represents catastrophic upheaval, the washing away of a corrupt world, and the terror of being judged. It is also a symbol of baptism on a cosmic scale, where the old is drowned so the new can emerge. Poets use the deluge to explore themes of survival (Noah's Ark), the fragility of civilization, and the power of nature as an instrument of the divine will.
Example
Example in poetry:
In biblical poetry, the Deluge cleanses corruption: “Rain fell forty days—only the ark remembered mercy”; In Mesopotamian verse, Utnapishtim survives the flood to gain wisdom; In eco-poetry, the Deluge warns of climate reckoning: “The sky weeps—will we build arks or drown in denial?”; Contemporary poets link Deluge to emotional catharsis: “My tears—Deluge that washes the old self away.”
Additional Notes
The Deluge appears in Genesis, the Epic of Gilgamesh, and Hindu (Manu) and Indigenous flood myths; it symbolizes divine judgment, renewal, and covenant; poets use flood imagery for emotional overwhelm, societal collapse, or baptismal rebirth—often pairing water’s destructive and life-giving dualities.
Also Known As
Great Flood Noah’s Flood spate Flood Cloudburst
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