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Retribution

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

Punishment or payback that is considered morally deserved for wrongdoing; in poetry, retribution fulfills a cosmic or narrative justice, often serving as the climactic resolution to conflict.

Detailed Definition
Retribution in poetry strikes through vengeful imagery, narrative arcs of downfall, and moral weight. It appears in ballads, epics, and dramatic monologues, where crime meets consequence. Poets explore its justice and excess, questioning whether retribution satisfies or perpetuates violence. Retribution invites readers to consider ethics, fate, and the human thirst for balance. It can be cathartic or horrifying, often complicating simple notions of right and wrong.
Example
Example in poetry:
Retribution in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado" where retribution is a theme; In John Milton's "Paradise Lost," retribution is divine; In William Blake's poetry, retribution is a theme; In contemporary poetry, retribution is often questioned; In "The Waste Land," retribution is a theme; In dramatic monologues, retribution often leads to downfall.
Additional Notes
Retribution in poetry strikes through vengeful imagery, narrative arcs of downfall, and moral weight, appearing in ballads, epics, and dramatic monologues. In teaching, distinguish retribution from revenge: retribution is just punishment, while revenge is personal retaliation. Poets explore its justice and excess, questioning whether retribution satisfies or perpetuates violence. It invites consideration of ethics and human thirst for balance. Students should examine how poets use imagery of justice, fall, and consequence, along with dramatic irony, to convey retribution's moral complexity.
Also Known As
Retaliation punishment revenge justice requital Vengeance
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