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Surprise

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

A sudden, unexpected event or feeling of wonder, shock, or astonishment; poetry harnesses surprise for dramatic turning points, revelatory imagery, and the abrupt shift from expectation to awe or disorientation.

Detailed Definition
Surprise in poetry jolts through twists, unconventional imagery, or sudden turn—the volta of a sonnet. Poets use it to upend expectations, delight, or disturb. Surprise invites readers into active engagement, often revealing hidden connections or truths. It enriches humor, mystery, and insight, making the poem memorable. Surprise can be gentle (a flower in concrete) or violent (a betrayal), and its effectiveness depends on careful setup.
Example
Example in poetry:
Surprise in Emily Dickinson's poetry where surprise is a frequent device; In Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken," surprise is a theme; In contemporary poetry, surprise is a device; In "The Waste Land," surprise is a response; In dramatic monologues, surprise often leads to revelation; In haiku, surprise is a key element.
Additional Notes
Surprise in poetry jolts through twists, unconventional imagery, or sudden turn—the volta of a sonnet—upending expectations to delight or disturb. In teaching, distinguish surprise from shock: surprise is unexpected, while shock is overwhelming. Surprise invites active engagement, often revealing hidden connections. It enriches humor, mystery, and insight. Students should examine how poets use volta, unexpected imagery, and contrast between expectation and reality to convey surprise's illuminating, memorable jolt.
Also Known As
Astonishment amazement wonder jolt revelation ferlie ferly Throw a curveball
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