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Literal expression

Device
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

Language that states meaning directly without metaphor, simile, or symbolic embellishment, prioritizing clarity over ornament.

Detailed Definition
Literal expression in poetry denotes language that avoids figurative devices, presenting objects, actions, or emotions directly and concretely; favored by Objectivist and minimalist poets, it trusts precise description to evoke complex responses without metaphorical mediation, asserting that “things as they are” carry inherent poetic power.
Example
Example in poetry:
William Carlos Williams’ “This Is Just To Say” uses literal expression: “I have eaten / the plums”; Emily Dickinson’s “I’m Nobody! Who are you?” uses literal self-identification; Contemporary poet Frank O’Hara’s “Lunch Poems” employ literal urban observations; Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” is often misread as metaphorical, but its literal path description grounds the poem; Gary Snyder’s “Riprap” uses literal description of trail-building; Lucille Clifton’s “blessing the boats” uses literal instruction: “may you kiss / the wind.”
Additional Notes
Literal expression avoids figurative language, stating things plainly; it’s used for authenticity in confessional poetry or to contrast with surrounding metaphor, creating stark emotional impact.
Also Known As
Plain diction unfigured speech straightforward utterance bare expression Kyriolexis
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