What are enjambement and caesura? Why are they important/what are their effects?

They are different techniques usually used in poetry. Enjambement is run-on lines, that is, lines that do not have punctuation at the end but flow on immediately to the next line. It links ideas together and maintains a constant and steady pace. It is particularly significant when it occurs across stanza breaks; it combines ideas that are separated by the stanzas and is likely to reinforce themes/moods. Caesura is a break or pause in the middle of a line, denoted by punctuation (dashes, fullstops, commas etc.). Caesura, particularly when used frequently, causes the pace to slow down and become jerky which often reinforces ideas of distress and confusion. It can also be used to increase emphasis on a word or phrase, or bracket information like an aside in a play.

Answered by Maryann P. English tutor

9262 Views

See similar English GCSE tutors

Related English GCSE answers

All answers ▸

When comparing two texts, where should I start?


How can I tell the difference between a Petrarchan sonnet and an English/Shakespearean sonnet?


1 What do you understand from the article about the issues of food waste at Christmas? [8 marks]


Name three literary devices, what they are, and give an example of each.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences