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Igraine

Arthurian Legend
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

Arthur’s mother, Duchess of Cornwall, seduced by Uther with Merlin’s aid

Detailed Definition
Igraine’s union with Uther, enabled by deception, births Arthur and ignites dynastic destiny. In poetry, she symbolizes the intersection of fate, magic, and political power, often portrayed as both victim and matriarch of legend.
Example
Example in poetry:
Igraine, Arthur’s mother, is seduced by Uther Pendragon with Merlin’s magic in Geoffrey of Monmouth; Poets depict her as both victim and matriarch of destiny; In feminist verse, Igraine’s voice questions consent and legacy; Her union with Uther births the myth of Arthur’s divine right; Modern retellings explore her grief over Gorlois’s death; Igraine’s later marriage to Uther frames Camelot’s founding in moral ambiguity.
Additional Notes
Igraine is Arthur’s mother, wife of Gorlois and later Uther Pendragon; her seduction by Uther (via Merlin’s magic) sets Arthur’s birth in motion—poets use her to examine consent, fate, and the foundational ambiguities of Arthur’s legitimacy and destiny.
Also Known As
Ygerne Igerna Eigr
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