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Hostility

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 state of active antagonism or ill will, often expressed through aggressive imagery, tone, or confrontational diction.

Detailed Definition
Hostility reflects deep-seated anger or defensiveness. In poetry, it surfaces through harsh consonants, accusatory tone, or violent imagery, often revealing underlying vulnerability or systemic injustice masked as personal animosity.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Sylvia Plath’s “Daddy,” hostility erupts toward the father figure; In Robert Browning’s “My Last Duchess,” hostility simmers beneath courtly language; In W.B. Yeats’ “Leda and the Swan,” hostility inheres in violent transformation; In Langston Hughes’ “Harlem,” hostility threatens in “Or does it explode?”; In Adrienne Rich’s “Diving into the Wreck,” hostility confronts patriarchal myths; In Ocean Vuong’s “Aubade with Burning City,” hostility echoes in war’s aftermath.
Additional Notes
Hostility—antagonistic attitude—often masks vulnerability or fear in poetry; differs from aggression by its sustained, not episodic, quality; poets use sharp diction, accusatory syntax, or violent metaphor; students should analyze power dynamics: Is hostility justified? Reciprocal?; note its link to systemic oppression—marginalized voices may express necessary hostility.
Also Known As
Aggression Animosity Antagonism Ill will Bad blood
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