Catalectic (Noun)
Meaning
(prosody) a line of verse that lacks a syllable in the last metrical foot.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The poem's final line was catalectic, creating an unsettling sense of abruptness that resonated deeply with the reader.
- The poet deliberately crafted her last line as catalectic, disrupting the otherwise steady rhythm of the verse.
- In ancient Greek poetry, catalectic lines often appeared in the final stanzas of longer works to signal a sense of urgency or resolution.
- Scholars have long argued that the use of catalectic lines in Shakespeare's sonnets was a deliberate attempt to subvert conventional forms.
- The poet's use of catalectic lines throughout the collection created a sense of restless energy that mirrored the turbulent emotions expressed in the verse.