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Sarcastic turn

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

A sudden rhetorical shift introducing irony-laced sarcasm, often undercutting prior sentiment or exposing hypocrisy through tone.

Detailed Definition
A sarcastic turn is a pivotal moment in a poem where the tone shifts abruptly to reveal biting mockery, often undercutting prior statements with a caustic remark that exposes hypocrisy, vanity, or absurdity.
Example
Example in poetry:
In “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” the turn from “I have measured out my life with coffee spoons” to “I should have been a pair of ragged claws” reveals self-mockery; In “Dulce et Decorum Est,” the shift to “If you could hear…” introduces bitter sarcasm; In Pope’s “Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot,” the turn to “Who breaks with me…” mocks false friendship; In Dickinson, “Much Madness is divinest Sense” turns societal norms on their head.
Additional Notes
A sarcastic turn introduces mockery through a sudden shift; often follows buildup of feigned sincerity; common in satirical and confessional poetry.
Also Known As
Mocking pivot Ironic swerve Scornful shift Ironist's turn
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