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Iseult

Literary Character
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 queen whose love for Tristan produces one of medieval literature’s great tragic romances.

Detailed Definition
Iseult, also called Isolde, is the central beloved of the Tristan legends and a figure of intelligence, healing, desire, and divided loyalty. Her marriage to King Mark cannot extinguish the love awakened by the potion she shares with Tristan. Medieval poets vary her portrayal between adulterous transgressor and victim of enchantment, giving her emotional and strategic complexity. She embodies the conflict between private passion and public duty, as well as love’s resistance to social naming.
Example
Example in poetry:
In medieval romance and later poetry, Iseult is the beloved whose love for Tristan challenges marriage, honor, and political order; A poet may present Iseult as a conflicted woman rather than a passive object of desire; The love potion can symbolize a passion that exposes hidden feelings while removing ordinary freedom of choice; A modern poem may distinguish Iseult of Ireland from Iseult of the White Hands to explore jealousy, identity, and the unequal consequences of love.
Additional Notes
Iseult, also called Isolde, is the Irish princess and later queen whose love for Tristan creates a defining medieval romance. Depending on the version, her intelligence, healing ability, and emotional courage complicate the image of a passive beloved. She represents divided loyalty, forbidden passion, courtly love, and the tragic conflict between personal fulfillment and marital duty.
Also Known As
Isolde Yseult Isolt Lady Isolde
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