Home › Glossary › Letter D

Dionysian ode

Form
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

An ode channeling the ecstatic, chaotic energy of Dionysus—marked by intoxication, ritual frenzy, and liberation from rational constraint.

Detailed Definition
Dionysian ode celebrates ecstatic, chaotic, and sensual experience through exuberant language, irregular rhythms, and imagery of intoxication, fertility, or ritual frenzy; inspired by the Greek god Dionysus, it contrasts with Apollonian order and embraces irrational vitality.
Example
Example in poetry:
Dionysian ode: A wild, ecstatic poem like Hart Crane’s “Voyages II”: “—And yet this great wink of eternity…” celebrating intoxication and chaos.
Additional Notes
Dionysian ode celebrates ecstatic, chaotic, or sensual experience inspired by Dionysus, Greek god of wine and frenzy; it contrasts with Apollonian order, favoring spontaneity, intoxication, and dissolution of boundaries.
Also Known As
Bacchic ode Ecstatic hymn Wild celebratory ode Frenzied lyric Bacchic lyric
Skip to main content