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Concluding two-liner

Structure
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

A concluding couplet that provides thematic resolution, emotional closure, or ironic twist at the end of a poem or stanzaic sequence.

Detailed Definition
A two-line conclusion providing economical closure and summary to a poem. The brevity creates emphasis and memorability, often containing the work's most quotable lines due to its prominent terminal position. In sonnets, the concluding two-liner may shift perspective or provide resolution, while in other forms it may summarize theme, provide moral instruction, or complete the logical or emotional arc.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Emily Dickinson’s “Because I could not stop for Death,” the final couplet (“Since then—’tis Centuries—and yet / Feels shorter than the Day”) compresses eternity; In Shakespeare’s sonnets, the concluding two-liner often delivers a volta or epigram; In Gwendolyn Brooks’ “We Real Cool,” “We / Die soon” ends with stark two-liner warning; In Kay Ryan’s “Turtle,” “Her only levity / is patience” concludes with paradoxical two-liner; In Lucille Clifton’s “blessing the boats,” “may you kiss / the wind” ends with tender two-liner benediction.
Additional Notes
Economical way to provide closure and summary. The brevity creates emphasis and memorability. Often contains the poem's most quotable lines due to its prominent position.
Also Known As
Terminal couplet Final pair Closing doublet End rhyme Epode couplet
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