need definition: enjambment

kdnxdr · 01-23-2006, 01:14 AM

I've been critiqued regarding my enjambment quite a few times lately. I don't know what enjambment is. Need to know so I can fix it.

kdnxdr

Richard · 01-23-2006, 01:19 AM

It's the poetry equivalent of the run-on sentence, a unit of the poem (a line) continuing for more than one printed line and pulling the reader's eye along with it.

For example I don't write
poetry but something like
this would still
apply

Or

This is an enjambment
Going onto another line
This is an endstop

William Haskins · 01-23-2006, 01:19 AM

behold.

kdnxdr · 01-23-2006, 01:59 AM

Wow! Thank you both, very much.

William: That was like taking a flash class on enjambment and end-stopping.

now, the question is, is one more preferable over the other and is there a best way to "do enjambment"?

I've heard several different things about emphasis on verbs, metaphors, similies and "strongest word".

say, for example, if one was using enjambment, how would that influence the aforementioned?

did that question even make sense?

kdnxdr

William Haskins · 01-23-2006, 02:50 AM

yes it makes sense, but i'm not really the right person with whom to discuss such things. i find formalism overvalued, and typically avoid didactic discussions about poetic rules.

kdnxdr · 01-23-2006, 02:57 AM

cool. I think I know what you said.

kdnxdr

Medievalist · 01-23-2006, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kdnxdr

Wow! Thank you both, very much.

William: That was like taking a flash class on enjambment and end-stopping.

now, the question is, is one more preferable over the other and is there a best way to "do enjambment"?

I've heard several different things about emphasis on verbs, metaphors, similies and "strongest word".

say, for example, if one was using enjambment, how would that influence the aforementioned?

did that question even make sense?

kdnxdr

Yes, and rather than try to answer it here, I'm going to suggest some books:

Mary Oliver A Poetry Handbook
Mary Oliver Rules for the Dance : A Handbook for Writing and Reading Metrical Verse
John Hollander Rhyme's Reason: A Guide to English Verse
Paul Fussell Poetic Meter and Poetic Form

These are all actually quite slim, and readable, even enjoyable. Try your public library.

kdnxdr · 01-23-2006, 03:20 AM

Thank you. I wrote them down to look for in the library.

kdnxdr

01-23-2006, 01:14 AM	#1
kdnxdr One of the most important people in the world Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: near to Dogwood Missouri Posts: 3,548	need definition: enjambment I've been critiqued regarding my enjambment quite a few times lately. I don't know what enjambment is. Need to know so I can fix it. kdnxdr __________________ check out my flickr photos : http://www.flickr.com/photos/kdnxdr/ My blog: http://steadydrip.blogspot.com/

01-23-2006, 01:19 AM	#2
Richard 13th Triskaidekaphobe Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: England Posts: 1,871	It's the poetry equivalent of the run-on sentence, a unit of the poem (a line) continuing for more than one printed line and pulling the reader's eye along with it. For example I don't write poetry but something like this would still apply Or This is an enjambment Going onto another line This is an endstop __________________ i have a website. it's no longer particularly blue.

01-23-2006, 01:19 AM	#3
William Haskins nihilistic mystic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: in the age of superboredom Posts: 17,136	behold. __________________ PoisonPen.net Writing by William Haskins On Sale Now The Latest in Literary News Get AuthorScoop on your Kindle

01-23-2006, 01:59 AM	#4
kdnxdr One of the most important people in the world Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: near to Dogwood Missouri Posts: 3,548	Wow! Thank you both, very much. William: That was like taking a flash class on enjambment and end-stopping. now, the question is, is one more preferable over the other and is there a best way to "do enjambment"? I've heard several different things about emphasis on verbs, metaphors, similies and "strongest word". say, for example, if one was using enjambment, how would that influence the aforementioned? did that question even make sense? kdnxdr __________________ check out my flickr photos : http://www.flickr.com/photos/kdnxdr/ My blog: http://steadydrip.blogspot.com/

01-23-2006, 02:50 AM	#5
William Haskins nihilistic mystic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: in the age of superboredom Posts: 17,136	yes it makes sense, but i'm not really the right person with whom to discuss such things. i find formalism overvalued, and typically avoid didactic discussions about poetic rules. __________________ PoisonPen.net Writing by William Haskins On Sale Now The Latest in Literary News Get AuthorScoop on your Kindle

01-23-2006, 02:57 AM	#6
kdnxdr One of the most important people in the world Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: near to Dogwood Missouri Posts: 3,548	cool. I think I know what you said. kdnxdr __________________ check out my flickr photos : http://www.flickr.com/photos/kdnxdr/ My blog: http://steadydrip.blogspot.com/

01-23-2006, 03:20 AM	#8
kdnxdr One of the most important people in the world Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: near to Dogwood Missouri Posts: 3,548	Thank you. I wrote them down to look for in the library. kdnxdr __________________ check out my flickr photos : http://www.flickr.com/photos/kdnxdr/ My blog: http://steadydrip.blogspot.com/

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