Example:
"To be or not to be, that is the question." - *Hamlet* by William Shakespeare
Explanation:
* Caesura: The strong pause or break in the line of poetry, indicated by the bold "that".
* Effect: The caesura creates a dramatic effect, momentarily interrupting the flow of the line and emphasizing the word "that". This emphasis highlights the weighty nature of Hamlet's contemplation about life and death.
Other examples:
* "I have a dream, that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." - Martin Luther King Jr.
* "The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep." - Robert Frost
Key Points about Caesura:
* Location: Caesura can occur anywhere within a line of poetry.
* Punctuation: It's often marked by punctuation (comma, semicolon, colon) but can also be implied by a natural pause in the rhythm of the line.
* Purpose: Caesura is a powerful tool used to:
* Emphasize specific words or phrases
* Create a sense of dramatic tension
* Control the pace and rhythm of the poem
* Reflect the speaker's emotions or thoughts