Which term means a sentence continues past line break?

Study for the American Literature TISKs Exam. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam with confidence!

Multiple Choice

Which term means a sentence continues past line break?

Explanation:
In poetry, line breaks can either stop a thought or carry it on. Enjambment is when a sentence or phrase runs over from one line into the next without a natural pause, so the meaning continues beyond the line break. This creates momentum and can shape rhythm and emphasis, since the thought isn’t finished at the end of the line. The opposite idea is an end-stopped line, where the line ends with a punctuation mark that clearly completes the thought. The other terms—verse, prose, and short story—refer to broader forms of writing rather than this specific line-structure device. Enjambment is the term that names the running-on of thought across lines.

In poetry, line breaks can either stop a thought or carry it on. Enjambment is when a sentence or phrase runs over from one line into the next without a natural pause, so the meaning continues beyond the line break. This creates momentum and can shape rhythm and emphasis, since the thought isn’t finished at the end of the line. The opposite idea is an end-stopped line, where the line ends with a punctuation mark that clearly completes the thought. The other terms—verse, prose, and short story—refer to broader forms of writing rather than this specific line-structure device. Enjambment is the term that names the running-on of thought across lines.

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