English Literature GCSE
Caesura
What Caesura means in English Literature GCSE, as defined for Eduqas, OCR, Pearson Edexcel.
Definitions of Caesura
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
A pause near the middle of a line, indicated by punctuation.
A pause near the middle of a line of poetry, often indicated by punctuation.
A strong pause within a line of poetry, often created by punctuation.
A pause near the middle of a line, often indicated by punctuation.
A pause or break in a line of poetry, usually near the middle of the line. It can be created by punctuation (like a full stop or comma). For example, "Lethal. Its scent will cling to your fingers..."
A pause or break in a line of poetry, often created by punctuation. In 'Nettles', the caesura after 'honed the blade' creates a dramatic pause before the father's violent actions.
Topics that use Caesura
- As Imperceptibly as Grief (Eduqas GCSE)
- Catrin (Eduqas GCSE)
- Section C (20%) Unseen Poetry (Eduqas GCSE)
- Skirrid Hill (Eduqas GCSE)
- Conflict Anthology (OCR GCSE)
- Love and Relationships Anthology (OCR GCSE)
- Nettles (OCR GCSE)
- Poetry across time (OCR GCSE)
- Valentine (OCR GCSE)
- 19th-Century Novel and Poetry since 1789 (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
- Anthology Poetry Comparison (named poem vs. poem of choice from same collection) (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
- Poetry (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
- Poetry Anthology: Time and Place (15 poems – Romantic, Literary Heritage, Contemporary) (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
- Poetry since 1789 – Pearson Poetry Anthology (choice of collection: Relationships, Conflict, Time and Place, Belonging) (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
- Relationships Poetry Anthology (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
Related terms
- Enjambment
- Free Verse
- Extended Metaphor
- Juxtaposition
- Semantic Field
- Dramatic Monologue
- Pathetic Fallacy
- Personification
Using Caesura in the exam
Definition questions usually carry one or two marks, and examiners look for the precise wording. Write the definition from memory, check it against the version above, and then use the term in a longer answer on the same topic so it sticks.
Practise English Literature questions
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