|
Poetry Knowledge Zone
> Class 5
Punctuation and Line
Breaks – 2
Punctuation is
the tool you use to talk to the reader and draw him into your mood. While
talking we pause, raise our voice, lower our voice, increase our pace,
decrease our pace – in short modulate our voice. Well punctuation is the
modulation of a written thought. When you use exclamation point at the end
of a sentence, it means it surprises or shocks you.
Take for example this line
They were the
trademarks of a great warrior
What does this
line convey to you of the writers feelings. Except the content of the
line, nothing much. But look at this
They were the
trademarks of a great warrior!
It shows
surprise and a degree of admiration. You would inject this into your voice
when reading it aloud. Similarly punctuation mark clarifies the thought
process of a writer and effectively conveys it to his readers. With proper
use it is a very powerful tool indeed!
Line-breaks
What purpose do
line breaks serve? Line breaks are devices used to separate one line of
the poetry from another. It may or may not deal with different lines of
thoughts. Each line of poetry should seamlessly blend into next line of
poetry like the waves meet together at the shore yet each holds on to its
identity.
Note that line
breaks are distinct from punctuation marks. Line breaks compliment,
contradict, confound, and compete with real or implied punctuation. Unlike
punctuation line breaks have no set of rules governing their use, however
loosely defined, they are not theorized but on the contrary popularized by
practical use.
Line breaks can
be loosely classified into end stopped line, enjambments and caesuras.
Lets briefly examine each of them.
End-stopped lines
End-stopped
lines put a clear rhythmic break at the end of each line, often reinforced
by a comma or period. Look at these lines from William Wordsworth’s
"She Dwelt
Among the Untrodden Ways"
She lived
unknown, and few could know
When Lucy ceased to be;
But she is in her grave, and, oh,
The difference to me!
Each line of
the poem is an individual sentence or fragment of thought and is
independent of rest of the poem to make a meaning.
–
Continued
Page : 1
| 2 | 3 |
4
Top |
Poetry Knowledge Zone
|
