Enjambment is a term used in the field of poetry to describe a line break within a single sentence of verse. It occurs when a line’s sense runs over into the next without a termination of punctuation or an external pause. This form of poetic writing dates all the way back to Shakespeare and has since been used extensively and in various forms throughout the literary world. Enjambment is commonly used by poets to create a stream of thought or rhythmic flow that often leads to a greater impact in terms of emotion and imagery.
At its most basic level, enjambment is simply an intentional break or separation of thought in one line of a poem, like a comma or period potentially would be. This form of poetic device serves to extend, enhance, and add depth to the focus of the poem. It’s a way to heighten the rhetorical intensity, drive a piece to greater heights, and make it more engaging for the reader. Experienced poets can use enjambment to dramatically impact how a poem sounds, and how one line might build upon and transition into the next.
Prosodically speaking, enjambment is an important element of poetry. It serves to keep the reader interested and engaged, as well as adding variety to how different sentences might be structured. Without this device, poets often risk having their works sound too monotonous and singular. In addition, it can also act as a tool to convey surprise and excitement. Writers can use enjambment to inject momentum and make a poem flow in a more satisfying manner.
Using enjambment isn’t strictly confined to poetry, it can also be found in other types of literature. Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets for example, use this technique quite often. It helps to keep the energy of the scene moving in a forward direction and can even be used as something of a dramatic anticipation device. Enjambment can also be used in lyrics to achieve emotive effects, or in prose as well to add a sense of complexity and intricacy to a writer’s style.
In conclusion, enjambment is a poetic tool widely used across many literary forms in order to provide greater expression and emotion to what is being spelled out the piece of writing. It is a device that can add layers to a poem and further help to emphasize certain feelings or ideas.
Examples of Enjambment In Poetry
Enjambment can help writers achieve a unique ‘flow’ to the poem and add structural complexity. Here is a famous example of enjambment in poetry; this example is used they way they usually are, to create a sense of suspense or surprise:
“My love is like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June;
My love is like the melody
That’s sweetly played in tune.”
Benefits of Enjambment
Enjambment is an incredibly valuable tool if used correctly. Poets or other writers often use this device to make a poem flow better and to create a unique sound or ‘voice’ when paired with other elements like rhythm, imagery, rhyme, or literary techniques. It can also bring out the deeper layers of meaning in a poem, draw out emotions in the reader or audience, and can even contribute towards making the poem more memorable – all beneficial factors for the poet.
For those who wish to use enjambment in their own work, there are a few tips which should be followed. Firstly, it is important to make sure that the line break does not interrupt the natural flow of the poem. A line break needs to still make sense grammatically and emotionally. Secondly, it’s important to ensure that the enjambment isn’t used too often. Avoid using this technique more than necessary, as it can easily become overworked, if not kept in check.
Different Versions of Enjambment
Enjambment occurs in two forms – grammatical and syntactic. Grammatical enjambment occurs when the line break interrupts the culmination of a grammatical unit. Syntactic enjambment is when the line break interrupts a syntactic unit. Grammatical enjambment is more often used to create a suspenseful tone, whereas syntactic enjambment may be used to create a lyrical sound or to emphasise a point.
To give a better understanding of these two terms, here is an example of a poem using both types of enjambment. The poem is by the American poet, Robert Frost:
“The woods are lovely, dark and deep
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep”
The first line of the poem is an example of grammatical enjambment, as the end of the first line interrupts the completion of a grammatical unit. And the second line is an example of syntactic enjambment as the sentence is split mid-way by breaking the syntactic unit.
The Effects of Enjambment
When used correctly, enjambment can affect the poem in a number of ways. Firstly, it can create a sense of suspense and anticipation for the reader. This is especially true when the line break creates a cliffhanger. It can also be used to emphasise a particular point or concept that the poet is trying to convey and make it linger in the reader’s mind.
Enjambment can also be used to add emotion and feeling to a poem. A poet can employ this technique to take the reader on an emotional journey, from one line to the next. Finally, enjambment can be used to suggest something, rather than explicitly stating it.
Conclusion
Enjambment is a poetic device that has been used in literature for centuries and is still in common use today. It is an effective tool to add depth and emotion to a poem or piece of writing. As a writer, it is important to understand the use of this tool in order to create more effective and powerful pieces of work.
