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Erethism

Concept
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 state of heightened irritability or sensitivity reflected in poetic diction, rhythm, or imagery, often signaling emotional instability.

Detailed Definition
Erethism is a rhetorical term for provocative or inciting language designed to stir emotion or action; in poetry, it appears as urgent diction, exclamatory syntax, or inflammatory imagery that agitates the reader toward response or reflection.
Example
Example in poetry:
Erethism: "My nerves are needles pricking at the air" (Plath); "Fevered thoughts like bees in a shaken hive" (contemporary); "Trembling hands, mind a live wire sparking" (student exercise); "I itch with unspoken words" (modern lyric)
Additional Notes
Abnormal excitement or irritation. Medical/psychological term. In poetry: excessive emotional response or stimulus. Related: pathetic fallacy, emotion in poetry. Rare technical usage.
Also Known As
emotional hypersensitivity irritable state
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