Palinode

Form
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

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 poem that formally retracts or recants a sentiment, opinion, or statement expressed in an earlier work, often with irony or regret.

Detailed Definition
Palinode is a poetic recantation or retraction of a previous statement, often in a subsequent poem; derived from ancient Greek practice, it allows the poet to revise, apologize for, or ironically undercut earlier positions, as in Spenser’s retraction of “The Shepheardes Calender.”
Example
Example in poetry:
Palinode in Sappho fragment retracting earlier praise; Chaucer’s “Retraction” ending Canterbury Tales; Shelley’s “To a Skylark” reversing despair to joy; modern palinode in Claudia Rankine’s “Citizen” revising racial narratives
Additional Notes
Poem retracting or recanting earlier work by same poet. Classical form of poetic apology or reversal. Study Chaucer's "Legend of Good Women" prologue or Renaissance examples for traditional approach.
Also Known As
Retraction recantation poem counter-song poetic reversal
Skip to main content