Enjambment

Definition

Enjambment is a poetic technique where a sentence or thought runs over from one line to the next without a pause or break. This technique creates a sense of movement and urgency, allowing the poem to flow more naturally and enhancing the emotional impact of the language. In the context of Victorian poetry, enjambment often serves to create tension or highlight themes of transition, change, and the complexities of human experience.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Victorian poets often used enjambment to create a sense of continuity and fluidity in their work, reflecting the complexities of the social changes happening during that time.
2. Enjambment allows poets to build suspense and lead readers from one line to another, creating a more engaging reading experience.
3. Many Victorian poets employed enjambment alongside traditional forms, balancing structure with innovative expression.
4. The use of enjambment can deepen the emotional resonance of a poem by allowing thoughts to unfold without interruption, mirroring the unpredictability of life.
5. Notable Victorian poets like Alfred Lord Tennyson and Robert Browning frequently utilized enjambment to convey deeper meaning and enhance thematic development.

Review Questions

• How does enjambment contribute to the emotional impact of Victorian poetry?
  • Enjambment enhances the emotional impact of Victorian poetry by allowing thoughts to flow seamlessly from one line to the next. This technique creates a sense of urgency and continuity that reflects the complexities of human experiences and societal changes during the era. By avoiding pauses, poets can evoke feelings of tension, anticipation, or resolution, drawing readers deeper into the emotional landscape of the poem.
• In what ways do Victorian poets balance traditional forms with enjambment in their work?
  • Victorian poets often balanced traditional forms, such as sonnets and stanzas, with enjambment to create a dynamic interplay between structure and expression. While adhering to established poetic conventions, they would incorporate enjambment to introduce fluidity and innovation. This blend allowed them to explore new themes and emotions while maintaining a connection to poetic heritage.
• Evaluate the significance of enjambment in shaping themes of change and transition in Victorian poetry.
  • Enjambment plays a crucial role in shaping themes of change and transition in Victorian poetry by mirroring the fluidity and unpredictability of life itself. As societal norms evolved during this period, poets utilized enjambment to reflect ongoing transformations in personal identities and cultural landscapes. This technique enables an exploration of complexities within human emotions and experiences, emphasizing that life is often not confined to neat boundaries but flows across lines, much like society during times of change.

Related terms

caesura: A pause or break within a line of poetry, often used to create a dramatic effect or to emphasize a particular idea.

iambic pentameter: A common metrical pattern in poetry, consisting of five iambs (unstressed-stressed syllable pairs) per line, often used by poets like Shakespeare and Milton.

meter: The rhythmic structure of lines in poetry, defined by the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.