Home › Glossary › Letter W

William Tell

Historical Figure
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

Legendary Swiss marksman and folk hero who defied Austrian authority by shooting an apple from his son’s head.

Detailed Definition
Tell symbolizes resistance to tyranny, precision, and paternal courage. In poetry and drama (Schiller), he represents Swiss independence and the fight for freedom. Poets use his legend to celebrate defiance, skill under pressure, and national liberation myths.
Example
Example in poetry:
Poets celebrate William Tell as the Swiss marksman whose apple-shot defiance of Austrian tyranny embodies precision, paternal courage, and the fight for freedom.; Verse often draws on Schiller's drama to symbolize national liberation through individual boldness.; A poet might use Tell to explore resistance to oppression and skill under extreme pressure.; In folk-inspired poetry, he represents the common hero challenging unjust authority.; Poets invoke his legend to meditate on independence, marksmanship as metaphor for resolve, and mythic founding tales.; Tell allows verse on liberty and the power of personal defiance in collective struggles.
Additional Notes
William Tell functions as a folk hero of liberty and precision in poetry. The legendary Swiss marksman who defied Austrian tyranny by shooting an apple from his son’s head symbolizes courage, skill, and resistance to oppression. Usage tip: draw on Schiller’s drama for dramatic tension; use the apple-shot as metaphor for resolve under pressure. In verse he represents national independence and the common man challenging unjust power. Related concepts include Swiss confederation myths and liberation narratives. Students benefit from exploring how folk legends fuel poetic celebrations of freedom. Tell enriches verse on defiance, paternal love, and the mythic foundations of national identity through individual boldness.
Also Known As
Wilhelm Tell Guillaume Tell
Skip to main content