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closing cadence

Sound
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

The rhythmic and sonic resolution at the end of a poem or stanza

Detailed Definition
Closing cadence denotes the rhythmic and sonic resolution at the end of a poetic line, stanza, or entire poem, achieved through meter, rhyme, punctuation, or phrasing that imparts a sense of finality or pause; a strong cadence provides structural satisfaction, while a weak or suspended one may evoke uncertainty, inviting the reader to linger or anticipate continuation.
Example
Example in poetry:
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18 closing with “So long lives this, and this gives life to thee”; Milton’s “On His Blindness” ending with “They also serve who only stand and wait”; Keats’ “Ode to a Nightingale” concluding with “Do I wake or sleep?”; Elizabeth Bishop’s “One Art” closing with “(Write it!) like disaster”
Additional Notes
Closing cadence refers to the rhythmic and sonic resolution at a poem’s end, often marked by a pause, rhyme, or metrical shift that signals finality.
Also Known As
Final cadence Terminal rhythm Concluding fall Poetic resolution Cadential ending Flowing close Natural music close cadential framework final movement
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