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Zeal

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

Intense, passionate enthusiasm or fervent dedication to a belief, ideal, or poetic subject, often driving rhetorical or emotional urgency.

Detailed Definition
Zeal borders on obsession but channels energy outward. Poetry captures its intensity through driving rhythm, fiery diction, or prophetic tone, celebrating devotion while cautioning against blind fervor.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise,” zeal defies historical oppression; In Langston Hughes’ “Dream Deferred,” zeal persists despite delay; In Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl,” zeal erupts in prophetic vision; In Audre Lorde’s “Power,” zeal fuels revolutionary anger; In W.B. Yeats’ “Easter, 1916,” zeal transforms rebels into “a terrible beauty”; In June Jordan’s “Poem About My Rights,” zeal claims bodily and political autonomy.
Additional Notes
Zeal—fervent enthusiasm—is often channeled into political or spiritual poetry (Lorde, Ginsberg); differs from fanaticism by its ethical grounding; poetic techniques include anaphora, imperative verbs, or rhythmic intensity; students should consider whether zeal unites or divides; note its link to agency—zeal as fuel for change.
Also Known As
Fervor Enthusiasm Passion Ardor
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