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Shape poetry

Form
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

Poems arranged visually on the page to create a shape related to the subject matter

Detailed Definition
Shape poetry: Poetry where words are arranged in visual patterns related to subject matter, creating images through typography. Also called concrete poetry or pattern poetry, shape poetry treats page as visual field where spatial arrangement generates meaning. The form spans ancient Greek technopaegnia through George Herbert's wings and altars to contemporary experimental work. Shape poetry challenges linear reading and engages visual perception, suggesting that meaning emerges from multiple dimensions including spatial arrangement, not just semantic content read sequentially. Understanding shape poetry reveals poetry's visual dimensions and materiality.
Example
Example in poetry:
George Herbert’s “Easter Wings” uses shape poetry with lines mimicking wings; In “The Altar,” Herbert’s poem is shaped like an altar; Contemporary concrete poetry arranges words as rain, trees, or protest signs; Student exercise: poem shaped like a key to represent memory; Another: using digital tools to create poem in spiral form.
Additional Notes
Shape poetry (concrete poetry) arranges text to create visual representations of subjects. Words form pictures related to content, making typography integral to meaning and uniting visual with verbal art.
Also Known As
Concrete poetry figured poem visual verse Carmina figurata Concrete Poetry (Global) Concrete/Visual Poetry (Worldwide) Figural poetry Pattern Poetry Poésie concrète
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