Literary terms · AP English Literature, AP English Language, SAT Reading and Writing, ACT Reading
Enjambment
Enjambment: The continuation of a sentence or phrase past the end of a line of poetry without a pause.
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What it means
In an enjambed line, the meaning runs over the line break into the next line. This can create momentum, surprise or double meanings, because the reader briefly takes the line one way before the next line completes it. An end-stopped line, by contrast, ends with a natural pause, often marked by punctuation.
The effect of enjambment depends on what the break separates and what it delays.
Example
'I meant to leave / the porch light on for you' briefly reads as 'I meant to leave' before the next line changes the meaning to a small act of care.
On the exam
Enjambment is a good structural choice to analyze when you can explain the double meaning or the change in pace it creates.
Lessons and practice questions
Related terms
- CaesuraA strong pause within a line of poetry, often marked by punctuation.
- Free versePoetry without a regular meter or rhyme scheme, which relies on line breaks, rhythm and imagery for structure.
- StanzaA group of lines in a poem separated from other groups by white space, functioning like a paragraph.