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Division

Structure
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 major break or organizational unit within a poem or long work.

Detailed Definition
Division in poetry denotes a structural or thematic break that segments a poem into distinct parts, such as stanzas, sections, or movements; these divisions organize thought, mark shifts in tone or perspective, and provide rhythmic pacing, functioning as both architectural scaffolding and expressive punctuation within the poetic whole.
Example
Example in poetry:
In George Herbert’s “Easter Wings,” the poem’s division into two wings enacts spiritual ascent and descent; In Dylan Thomas’ “Vision and Prayer,” hourglass shape divides time into past and future; In bpNichol’s “The Cosmic Chef,” recipe sections divide into poetic ingredients; In M. NourbeSe Philip’s “Zong!,” vertical columns divide legal text into testimonial fragments; In Layli Long Soldier’s “Whereas,” indented gaps divide U.S. policy from Indigenous rebuttal.
Additional Notes
Division: A major section or part of a long poem, often labeled with a roman numeral or title; structurally similar to a chapter in a novel. Context: Essential for organizing epic poems or lengthy meditative works.
Other Meanings of “Division”
Also Known As
Partition separation segmentation poetic division Canto Command portion severance
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