What is an 'epic caesura' in blank verse?
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Correct answer: A pause after a stressed syllable that adds an extra syllable to the line
An epic caesura involves a break in the middle of a line after an extra unstressed syllable, without that syllable counting toward the ten-syllable total. It creates a temporary rhythmic disruption often used for dramatic effect.
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More Blank Verse questions
- Which play by Shakespeare is notable for containing the highest percentage of prose relative to blank verse?
- The omission of a syllable to maintain the iambic pentameter count (e.g., 'th'event' instead of 'the event') is called:
- Why did Shakespeare shift from blank verse to prose in scenes where characters like Lady Macbeth or King Lear descend into madness?
- What is a 'short line' in Shakespearean drama?
- Which of the following best defines 'Blank Verse' as used in Shakespearean drama?
- How many 'feet' are contained in a standard line of Shakespearean blank verse?