What is a caesura in poetry?

• A. A pause in the middle of a line
• B. A type of punctuation in prose
• C. A long narration
• D. A kind of rhyme

Answer: (A)

A caesura is a pause placed in the middle of a line of poetry. It creates a momentary break in the rhythm, often signaled by punctuation like a comma or dash, or by a natural breath. This pause can slow the reading, add emphasis to the words around it, and influence the mood or meaning of the line. It differs from enjambment, where the sentence carries on to the next line without a pause. This concept isn’t about prose punctuation, a long narration, or rhyme, but about how a line of verse can be momentarily interrupted to shape its delivery.