In Latin and Greek classical poetry, a caesura (pronounced “suh-zyur-uh”) is the space between two words contained within a metrical foot. In modern poetry, the definition of “caesura” (plural caesurae) is the natural end to a poetic phrase, especially when the phrase ends in the middle of a line of poetry. The word “caesura” comes from the Latin caedere (“to cut”).

The [scansion](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-scansion-in-poetry) mark used to indicate a caesura is two <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/writing-101-what-is-parallelism' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/writing-101-what-is-parallelism","linkCopy":"parallel","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>parallel</a> vertical bars: “||”. This is a variation of the virgule, which is a slash denoting a line break.
You can categorize caesura based on whether the syllable it follows is stressed or unstressed or where it occurs in the line. Here’s how to identify the different types:

1. __Feminine caesura__: If a caesura follows an unstressed syllable, it is “feminine.” Learn more about how stressed and unstressed syllables create [meter in poetry](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/poetry-101-what-is-meter-learn-the-difference-between-qualitative-and-quantitative-meter-in-poetry-with-examples).
2. __Epic caesura__: A feminine caesura can be either epic or lyric. In [iambic meter](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/understanding-iambic-meter), an epic caesura follows an extra unstressed syllable. (An iamb is a unit of one stressed and one unstressed syllable, so an epic caesura is a pause that comes after two unstressed syllables.) A famous epic caesura comes from Shakespeare’s *Macbeth*: “but how of Cawdor? || The Thane of Cawdor lives.”
3. __Lyric caesura__: In a lyric caesura, the caesura also comes after an unstressed syllable, but it follows regular iambic meter (stressed, unstressed, stressed). A classic lyric caesura is “they cease not fighting II east and west” from *The Welsh Marches* by A.E. Houseman.
4. __Masculine caesura__: If a caesura follows a stressed or accented syllable, it is “masculine.” The opening line of the *Iliad* by Homer contains a masculine caesura: “Sing, O goddess || the rage of Achilles, the son of Peleus.”
5. __Initial caesura__: In addition to whether a caesura occurs after a stressed or unstressed syllable, caesuras can be categorized by where in a line they occur. An initial caesura occurs towards the beginning of a line, such as “to be, || or not to be — that is the question” in Shakespeare’s *Hamlet*.
6. __Medial caesura__: The most common type of caesura in classical poetry, a medial caesura occurs in the middle of a line of poetry. A medial caesura can be epic, lyric, or masculine.
7. __Terminal caesura__: A terminal caesura appears near the end of a line of poetry, as in “Then there’s a pair of us || – don’t tell!” in Emily Dickinson’s famous poem “I’m Nobody! Who Are You?”
Caesurae are common throughout the history of poetry. In classical poetry, a caesura occurs whenever the ending of a word occurs in the middle of a metrical foot. In modern poetry, the term only applies when an audible pause occurs in the line of verse. In Old English poetry, the caesura is used to emphasize an articulated pause that occurs in the middle of lines that would otherwise be monotonous and droning.
Here are some notable examples of caesurae in poetry:

__1.__ *__The Aeneid__* __by Virgil (19 BC)__
Arma virumque cano || Troiae qui primus ab oris
(Of arms and the man, I sing. || Who first from the shores of Troy...)
This is a medial caesura because it occurs in the middle of the line.

__2.__ __“An Essay on Criticism” by Alexander Pope (1711)__
To err is human; || to forgive, divine.

__3.__ *__The Winter’s Tale__* __by William Shakespeare (1623)__
It is for you we speak, || not for ourselves:
You are abused || and by some putter-on
That will be damn’d for’t; || would I knew the villain,
I would land-damn him. || Be she honour-flaw’d,
I have three daughters; || the eldest is eleven

__4.__ *__The Iliad__* __by Homer (c. 8th century BC)__
Sing, o goddess || the rage of Achilles, the son of Peleus.

__5.__ __“Ozymandias”: by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1818)__
Who said—”Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert … || Near them, || on the sand …
My name is Ozymandias, || King of Kings; ||
Look on my Works, || ye Mighty, || and despair!
Nothing beside remains. || Round the decay …

__6.__ __“I’m Nobody! Who Are You?” by Emily Dickinson (1891)__
I’m nobody! || Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there’s a pair of us || – don’t tell!
They’d banish || – you know!

Become a better writer with the [Masterclass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com/). Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by literary masters, including Billy Collins, Neil Gaiman, David Baldacci, Joyce Carol Oates, Dan Brown, Margaret Atwood, David Sedaris, and more.
If you’re new to studying English poetry and English literature, there are many literary devices to acquaint yourself with. The pantheon of English verse contains poems of all different [rhyme schemes](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-rhyme-scheme-learn-about-10-different-poetry-rhyme-schemes) and meters. One poetic device that has been featured in both classical and modern poetry is the caesura.

If you’re new to studying English poetry and English literature, there are many literary devices to acquaint yourself with. The pantheon of English verse contains poems of all different [rhyme schemes](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-rhyme-scheme-learn-about-10-different-poetry-rhyme-schemes) and meters. One poetic device that has been featured in both classical and modern poetry is the caesura.

Understanding Caesura: Definition and Examples of Caesura

In Latin and Greek classical poetry, a caesura (pronounced “suh-zyur-uh”) is the space between two words contained within a metrical foot. In modern poetry, the definition of “caesura” (plural caesurae) is the natural end to a poetic phrase, especially when the phrase ends in the middle of a line of poetry. The word “caesura” comes from the Latin caedere (“to cut”).The <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-scansion-in-poetry' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-scansion-in-poetry","linkCopy":"scansion","category":null}'>scansion</a> mark used to indicate a caesura is two <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/writing-101-what-is-parallelism' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/writing-101-what-is-parallelism","linkCopy":"parallel","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>parallel</a> vertical bars: “||”. This is a variation of the virgule, which is a slash denoting a line break.

What Is a Caesura?

You can categorize caesura based on whether the syllable it follows is stressed or unstressed or where it occurs in the line. Here’s how to identify the different types:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Feminine caesura: If a caesura follows an unstressed syllable, it is “feminine.” Learn more about how stressed and unstressed syllables create <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/poetry-101-what-is-meter-learn-the-difference-between-qualitative-and-quantitative-meter-in-poetry-with-examples' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/poetry-101-what-is-meter-learn-the-difference-between-qualitative-and-quantitative-meter-in-poetry-with-examples","linkCopy":"meter in poetry","category":null}'>meter in poetry</a>. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Epic caesura: A feminine caesura can be either epic or lyric. In <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/understanding-iambic-meter' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/understanding-iambic-meter","linkCopy":"iambic meter","category":null}'>iambic meter</a>, an epic caesura follows an extra unstressed syllable. (An iamb is a unit of one stressed and one unstressed syllable, so an epic caesura is a pause that comes after two unstressed syllables.) A famous epic caesura comes from Shakespeare’s Macbeth: “but how of Cawdor? || The Thane of Cawdor lives.” </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Lyric caesura: In a lyric caesura, the caesura also comes after an unstressed syllable, but it follows regular iambic meter (stressed, unstressed, stressed). A classic lyric caesura is “they cease not fighting II east and west” from The Welsh Marches by A.E. Houseman. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Masculine caesura: If a caesura follows a stressed or accented syllable, it is “masculine.” The opening line of the Iliad by Homer contains a masculine caesura: “Sing, O goddess || the rage of Achilles, the son of Peleus.” </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Initial caesura: In addition to whether a caesura occurs after a stressed or unstressed syllable, caesuras can be categorized by where in a line they occur. An initial caesura occurs towards the beginning of a line, such as “to be, || or not to be — that is the question” in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 6. Medial caesura: The most common type of caesura in classical poetry, a medial caesura occurs in the middle of a line of poetry. A medial caesura can be epic, lyric, or masculine. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 7. Terminal caesura: A terminal caesura appears near the end of a line of poetry, as in “Then there’s a pair of us || – don’t tell!” in Emily Dickinson’s famous poem “I’m Nobody! Who Are You?” </li></ol>

7 Types of Caesura

Caesurae are common throughout the history of poetry. In classical poetry, a caesura occurs whenever the ending of a word occurs in the middle of a metrical foot. In modern poetry, the term only applies when an audible pause occurs in the line of verse. In Old English poetry, the caesura is used to emphasize an articulated pause that occurs in the middle of lines that would otherwise be monotonous and droning.

Purpose of Caesura

Here are some notable examples of caesurae in poetry:1. The Aeneid by Virgil (19 BC) Arma virumque cano || Troiae qui primus ab oris (Of arms and the man, I sing. || Who first from the shores of Troy...) This is a medial caesura because it occurs in the middle of the line.2. “An Essay on Criticism” by Alexander Pope (1711) To err is human; || to forgive, divine.3. The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare (1623) It is for you we speak, || not for ourselves: You are abused || and by some putter-on That will be damn’d for’t; || would I knew the villain, I would land-damn him. || Be she honour-flaw’d, I have three daughters; || the eldest is eleven4. The Iliad by Homer (c. 8th century BC) Sing, o goddess || the rage of Achilles, the son of Peleus.5. “Ozymandias”: by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1818) Who said—”Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert … || Near them, || on the sand … My name is Ozymandias, || King of Kings; || Look on my Works, || ye Mighty, || and despair! Nothing beside remains. || Round the decay …6. “I’m Nobody! Who Are You?” by Emily Dickinson (1891) I’m nobody! || Who are you? Are you nobody, too? Then there’s a pair of us || – don’t tell! They’d banish || – you know!

6 Examples of Caesura in Poetry

Become a better writer with the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/","linkCopy":"Masterclass Annual Membership","category":null}'>Masterclass Annual Membership</a>. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by literary masters, including Billy Collins, Neil Gaiman, David Baldacci, Joyce Carol Oates, Dan Brown, Margaret Atwood, David Sedaris, and more.

Want to Learn More About Writing?

If you’re new to studying English poetry and English literature, there are many literary devices to acquaint yourself with. The pantheon of English verse contains poems of all different <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-rhyme-scheme-learn-about-10-different-poetry-rhyme-schemes' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-rhyme-scheme-learn-about-10-different-poetry-rhyme-schemes","linkCopy":"rhyme schemes","category":null}'>rhyme schemes</a> and meters. One poetic device that has been featured in both classical and modern poetry is the caesura.

If you’re new to studying English poetry and English literature, there are many literary devices to acquaint yourself with. The pantheon of English verse contains poems of all different rhyme schemes (https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-rhyme-scheme-learn-about-10-different-poetry-rhyme-schemes) and meters. One poetic device that has been featured in both classical and modern poetry is the caesura.
