Understanding Enjambment: 5 Examples in Poetry

Contents

1. What is Enjambment?
2. Enjambment in Shakespeare
3. Enjambment in John Donne
4. Enjambment in Emily Dickinson
5. Enjambment in Langston Hughes

Have you ever read a poem and felt like the words were tumbling down the page, one line leading into the next without a pause? You may not have known it, but you were probably witnessing a poetry technique known as enjambment. A fancy word, I know, but don't worry—we're going to break down the enjambment definition and explore some examples. By the end of this blog, you'll be spotting enjambment like a pro!

What is Enjambment?

Before we dive into our poetic exploration, let's get our enjambment definition sorted. Enjambment, pronounced en-JAM-ment, is a technique used in poetry where a sentence continues beyond the end of a line, couplet, or stanza without a pause. Think of it as a sentence that doesn't know when to stop—it just keeps going and going, past the boundaries of lines and stanzas!

Why Do Poets Use Enjambment?

Now that you know what enjambment is, you might be wondering why poets use this technique. There are a few reasons:

• Flow: Enjambment helps to create a smooth flow of ideas or emotions in a poem. Instead of ideas being chopped up into neat little lines, they flow into each other, creating a sense of continuity.
• Suspense: By pushing a sentence beyond a line or stanza, a poet can create a sense of anticipation or suspense. You're left hanging, wanting to read on to find out where the sentence is going!
• Emphasis: Sometimes, a poet might use enjambment to draw attention to a particular word or phrase. If a line ends with an unexpected word, it can make you stop and think.

These are just a few of the ways enjambment can be used. As we explore some examples, you'll see how versatile this technique can be!

Spotting Enjambment in Poetry

Spotting enjambment in poetry is a bit like playing detective. Here are some tips to help you catch this crafty technique in action:

1. Read the poem aloud: When you read a poem aloud, you naturally pause at the end of each line. If a sentence runs over into the next line without a pause, you've found enjambment!
2. Look at the punctuation: If a line ends in a comma, semicolon, or other punctuation mark that indicates a pause, it's probably not enjambment. But if there's no punctuation at the end of a line, and the sentence continues on the next line, you've likely spotted enjambment.
3. Follow the sentence: Try following a sentence through the poem. If it starts on one line and ends on another, you've found an example of enjambment!

Armed with your enjambment definition and these tips, you're ready to start spotting enjambment in the wild world of poetry. As we move on to our examples, see if you can spot the enjambment before I point it out. Ready to play detective? Let's go!

Enjambment in Shakespeare

When we think of poetry, Shakespeare often springs to mind—and for good reason. The Bard was a master of language, and he certainly knew how to use enjambment to his advantage. Let's explore some examples of how Shakespeare used enjambment in his works.

A Midsummer Night's Dream

In "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Shakespeare uses enjambment to create a sense of fluid movement and continuity in the speech of the character Puck. Consider these lines:

"And then the whole quire hold their hips and laugh,
And waxen in their mirth and neeze and swear
A merrier hour was never wasted there."

Did you notice how the sentences flowed from one line to the next without pause? That's enjambment in action! It gives a sense of Puck's lively, unending chatter and the continuous mirth of the scene.

Romeo and Juliet

Shakespeare also used enjambment to heighten dramatic tension, as in this famous scene from "Romeo and Juliet":

"Gentle Romeo, if thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully:
Or if thou think'st I am too quickly won,
I'll frown and be perverse and say thee nay."

Here, the sentences spill over from one line to the next, mirroring Juliet's rush of emotions and words. This use of enjambment adds to the intensity of the scene, keeping us on the edge of our seats.

These examples show how Shakespeare used enjambment to bring his characters and scenes to life. By letting his sentences run on, he was able to create a sense of motion and tension that kept his audience engaged. So, the next time you're reading a bit of Shakespeare, keep an eye out for enjambment—it's one of the tools that made him such a great poet!

Enjambment in John Donne

John Donne, a notable figure of the metaphysical poetry movement, also had a knack for using enjambment in his verses. He often used this technique to create a sense of continuity and surprise in his complex, thought-provoking poems. Let's dive into how Donne made use of enjambment.

"The Flea"

In his poem "The Flea," Donne uses enjambment to merge lines and keep the reader's attention, as seen in these lines:

"Mark but this flea, and mark in this,
How little that which thou deniest me is;"

The sentence doesn’t end at the line break; it continues onto the next line. This is a classic example of enjambment, which Donne uses to pull us along to the next line, increasing the poem's momentum.

"No Man is an Island"

Donne's meditation "No Man is an Island" also showcases his skillful use of enjambment:

"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;"

Here, Donne uses enjambment to emphasise the interconnected nature of humanity. The flow from one line to the next, with no pause, mirrors the inseparable connection between all people that Donne is expressing.

Donne's use of enjambment is a testament to the power of this poetic technique. It allows him to create a sense of unity and continuity in his poems, drawing readers in and taking them on an unexpected journey. So, keep the enjambment definition in mind as you explore Donne's exquisite verses—it's a fascinating lens through which to view his work!

Enjambment in Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson, one of America's most famous poets, was a master of enjambment. Her unique style, which often involved unconventional punctuation and capitalization, also included clever use of enjambment to add depth and rhythm to her poetry. Let's take a closer look at how Dickinson used this technique.

"Because I could not stop for Death"

Dickinson's poem "Because I could not stop for Death" offers a prime example of her use of enjambment:

"Because I could not stop for Death –
He kindly stopped for me –"

The continuity from the first line to the second enhances the poem's rhythm and creates a sense of forward motion—much like the journey to eternity that the poem discusses. The use of enjambment here is clever and deeply effective.

"Hope is the thing with feathers"

On the other hand, in "Hope is the thing with feathers," Dickinson uses enjambment to create a sense of hope that extends beyond the limitations of a single line:

"Hope is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -"

The thought does not end at the close of the first line, but spills over to the next, much like hope itself, which often extends beyond our immediate circumstances. This is a beautiful demonstration of the enjambment definition in action.

Emily Dickinson's use of enjambment is a key part of her poetic style, adding depth and rhythm to her work. By understanding how she uses this technique, you can gain a greater appreciation for her poetry and deepen your understanding of enjambment. So, next time you read a Dickinson poem, look for those lines that flow into the next—you might be surprised at what you find!

Enjambment in Langston Hughes

Just as Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughes, a renowned figure of the Harlem Renaissance, used enjambment to bring his poetry to life. Hughes often used this technique to convey the rhythm of music, particularly jazz and blues, in his work. Let's dive into two of his poems to see how he used enjambment.

"The Weary Blues"

In the poem "The Weary Blues," Hughes uses enjambment to mimic the cadence of a blues song:

"Droning a drowsy syncopated tune,
Rocking back and forth to a mellow croon,"

Here, the continuation of the sentence from the first line to the next captures the slow, rhythmical sway of the music. This is a great example of how Hughes used enjambment to create a musical quality in his poetry.

"I, Too"

In "I, Too," Hughes uses enjambment to convey a sense of longing and aspiration:

"I, too, sing America.
I am the darker brother."

The thought does not end with the first line but instead continues to the next, adding emphasis to the speaker's identification as an American. This example showcases enjambment as a tool for adding depth and emphasis to a poem's message.

Langston Hughes' use of enjambment is a testament to his skill as a poet. His ability to weave this technique into his work creates a unique rhythm and musicality, enhancing the power of his words. So, the next time you delve into a Hughes poem, be on the lookout for his use of enjambment—you'll gain a deeper understanding of his work, and of the enjambment definition itself.

If you enjoyed learning about enjambment and are looking to deepen your understanding of poetic techniques, consider checking out the workshop 'Writing From Memory - Part 2' by Charlie Brogan. This workshop will explore how to use your memories to create powerful, evocative poetry, and may include discussions on enjambment and other poetic techniques to enhance your writing.