masculine caesura: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (Specialist)Technical / Literary / Academic
Quick answer
What does “masculine caesura” mean?
In English verse, a caesura (pause within a line) that occurs after a stressed syllable, typically creating a more abrupt, forceful break.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
In English verse, a caesura (pause within a line) that occurs after a stressed syllable, typically creating a more abrupt, forceful break.
A metrical pause in poetry that reinforces a strong rhythmic beat, often used to create a sense of weight, decisiveness, or dramatic emphasis. It contrasts with a 'feminine caesura,' which occurs after an unstressed syllable.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or application. The terminology is standard in the academic study of poetry in both traditions.
Connotations
Inherits traditional, now somewhat dated, gendered terminology from classical prosody ('masculine' for strong/stressed, 'feminine' for weak/unstressed).
Frequency
Equally rare and specialised in both varieties, confined to university-level literature or poetry workshops.
Grammar
How to Use “masculine caesura” in a Sentence
The line contains a masculine caesura after 'strength'.The poet uses a masculine caesura to create a jarring effect.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “masculine caesura” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The masculine caesura in the Old English line adds to its sombre gravity.
- He analysed the frequency of masculine caesurae in Milton's blank verse.
American English
- The masculine caesura gives the line a punchy, declarative feel.
- Her essay focused on the shift from feminine to masculine caesuras in the poem's climax.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Used in literary analysis, prosody papers, and critiques of poetic form.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Core term in metrical analysis and the description of poetic rhythm.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “masculine caesura”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “masculine caesura”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “masculine caesura”
- Confusing it with any pause in speech rather than a specific metrical feature. Using it to describe prose. Misidentifying the stress pattern of the preceding syllable.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It uses traditional gendered terminology from classical prosody, which is now often critiqued. Many modern scholars prefer descriptive terms like 'strong caesura' or 'stress-final caesura'.
The concept is rooted in metrical verse. In free verse, one might speak of a 'strong pause' or 'rhythmic break,' but the technical classification of caesura type depends on a regular metrical context.
A caesura is a pause *within* a line of poetry, while a line break is the pause or transition *at the end* of a line. A masculine caesura is a specific type of internal pause.
First, scan the line's meter to identify stressed (/) and unstressed (x) syllables. Find the primary pause within the line. If the syllable immediately before that pause is stressed (/ ||), it is a masculine caesura.
In English verse, a caesura (pause within a line) that occurs after a stressed syllable, typically creating a more abrupt, forceful break.
Masculine caesura is usually technical / literary / academic in register.
Masculine caesura: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmæskjəlɪn sɪˈzjʊə.rə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmæskjəlɪn səˈʒʊr.ə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MASCuline' has stress on the first syllable (MASC), just like a masculine caesura comes AFTER a stressed syllable.
Conceptual Metaphor
LINGUISTIC RHYTHM IS PHYSICAL IMPACT (a masculine caesura is a 'hard stop' or a 'beat'). GENDERED ATTRIBUTES FOR LINGUISTIC FEATURES (an outdated metaphor linking 'masculine' to strength/force).
Practice
Quiz
What defines a masculine caesura?