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Stopped verse line

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 poetic line that ends with a clear pause—marked by punctuation or syntactic closure—creating emphasis, rhythm, or dramatic effect.

Detailed Definition
A verse line ending with pause created by punctuation, syntactic completion, or line break itself, forming a discrete unit separated from subsequent lines. Stopped verse lines, also called end-stopped lines, contrast with enjambed lines where syntax continues. Each stopped line achieves grammatical closure or significant pause. This technique reinforces line as temporal unit, creates predictable rhythm, and provides moments of rest and reflection.
Example
Example in poetry:
Stopped verse line uses end-stopped punctuation for emphasis; Alexander Pope’s heroic couplets: “To err is human; to forgive, divine”; modern example: A.E. Stallings’ “Hapax Legomenon” uses stopped lines for lexical precision; stopped verse line creates aphoristic closure; it’s common in epigram and satire; this technique contrasts with enjambment’s fluidity.
Additional Notes
Synonym for end-stopped line. The pause at line end creates clear division and rest. Contrasts with run-on or enjambed lines.
Also Known As
End-stopped verse Closed line Paused line Terminal stop line End-Stopped Line
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