Home › Glossary › Letter S

Shakespeare idolatry

Concept
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

Cult-like worship and reverence for the literary genius of Shakespeare.

Detailed Definition
Shakespeare idolatry denotes the excessive veneration of William Shakespeare as the supreme literary authority, often leading poets to imitate his style, themes, or forms uncritically; while inspiring homage, this tendency can stifle originality, as seen in 18th-century neoclassical adaptations or Victorian bardolatry.
Example
Example in poetry:
Victorian poets like Matthew Arnold revered Shakespeare as moral and aesthetic ideal—Shakespeare idolatry; In “The Tempest,” modern poets like W.H. Auden treat Caliban as symbolic of artistic struggle—Shakespeare idolatry; Harold Bloom’s “Anxiety of Influence” describes poetic tradition shaped by Shakespeare idolatry; Contemporary sonneteers often mimic Shakespeare’s form out of reverence—Shakespeare idolatry
Additional Notes
Shakespeare idolatry: Excessive, often uncritical, admiration and reverence for William Shakespeare's works, viewing them as the untouchable standard of English literature; a historical and critical term.
Also Known As
Bard worship Shakespeare devotion poetic idolatry Bardolatry
Skip to main content