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Exaltation

Psychology
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 psychological or spiritual state of intense joy, elevated pride, noble rapture, or sublime emotional height.

Detailed Definition
Exaltation in poetry rises through soaring diction, hymnal rhythms, and cosmic imagery. It marks moments of epiphany, victory, or mystical union, often in odes or psalms. Poets use exaltation to transcend earthly limits, yet often temper it with humility or irony. The term bridges psychological and spiritual realms, making the reader feel lifted while reminding them of the ground below, as in Wordsworth's nature raptures or Hopkins's ecstatic praise.
Example
Example in poetry:
Exaltation in Bliss William Carman's "Lord of My Heart's Elation" speaks of exaltation; Victor Hugo's "Exaltation" describes piercing eyes beyond earth's desires; John Bannister Tabb's "Exaltation" addresses the leaf upon the highest bough; "Exaltation That Comes From Something Fragile" finds exaltation in watching a threatened thing become itself; Edward Taylor's poetry speaks of flying from dust to glory; The Papists Exaltation celebrates the Prince of Orange's arrival.
Additional Notes
Exaltation in poetry rises through soaring diction, hymnal rhythms, and cosmic imagery, marking moments of epiphany, victory, or mystical union. Poets use exaltation to transcend earthly limits, yet often temper it with humility or irony. In teaching, distinguish exaltation from elation: exaltation implies a spiritual or elevated state, while elation is intense joy. The term bridges psychological and spiritual realms, making the reader feel lifted while reminding them of the ground below. Students should examine how poets use religious or mythological allusion to convey exaltation's transcendent quality.
Other Meanings of “Exaltation”
Also Known As
Elevation rapture ecstasy uplift transcendence
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