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French Pléiade

Movement
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

16th-century French poetic group seeking to elevate vernacular through classical models

Detailed Definition
The French Pléiade was a 16th-century literary group led by Pierre de Ronsard and Joachim du Bellay that sought to elevate French vernacular poetry by emulating classical Greek and Latin models, promoting linguistic refinement, metrical innovation (like the alexandrine), and national poetic identity through manifestos such as Du Bellay’s "Défense et illustration de la langue française."
Example
Example in poetry:
French Pléiade: Ronsard’s odes adapting Pindar for French court; Du Bellay’s “Defence and Illustration of the French Language” champions vernacular poetry; Use of classical forms with French sensibility; Contemporary poets reference Pléiade to explore linguistic pride; The group revitalized French poetry through Greco-Roman models.
Additional Notes
16th-century French movement reforming vernacular poetry. Included Ronsard and Du Bellay. Modeled on Greek/Roman classics; influenced English Renaissance.
Also Known As
French Renaissance group Pléiade poets Seven-star poets Du Bellay circle
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