Enjambment is a device in poetry. Which best defines it and its effect on pacing?

• A. It describes the use of punctuation at the line end to end the sentence.
• B. It speeds up pace by using pauses at line breaks.
• C. Enjambment is when a sentence or clause runs over from one line to the next without terminal punctuation; it speeds up pace, creates suspense, and pushes the reader forward.
• D. It is when a line ends with a natural pause.

Answer: (C)

Enjambment is when a sentence or clause runs over from one line to the next without terminal punctuation, so the thought spills into the next line. Because the sense doesn’t stop at the line break, the reader moves quickly to complete the idea, which speeds the pace and can heighten suspense or urgency. This forward push keeps the reading rhythm flowing rather than pausing at the end of a line. In contrast, a line that ends with punctuation creates a natural pause, slowing the pace and giving a moment of rest for the reader. The description that emphasizes the lack of terminal punctuation and the resulting speed, momentum, and push to read on is the best fit. For clarity, imagine a line break where the sentence continues without a period or comma stopping it—the momentum carries you into the next line, shaping how the poem unfolds.