What is enjambment in poetry?

Enjambment in poetry refers to the practice of continuing a sentence or thought from one line into the next without a pause or break. This technique allows a poem to maintain its rhythm and flow, creating a sense of urgency or movement. When a line spills over into the next line without stopping, it encourages readers to move quickly through the text, often enhancing the emotional impact or thematic development of the poem.

The use of enjambment can also affect how a reader interprets the meaning, as it can create multiple layers of interpretation or the need for reevaluation upon reaching the next line. It contrasts with other techniques, such as a pause at the end of a line, which would be called a caesura. Metrical foot refers to the basic rhythmic unit in a line of poetry, and rhyme pertains to the similarity of sounds at the end of lines, both of which do not encapsulate the essence of enjambment.