A metrical pause occurring in the middle of a line in a poem is called

1. Analyze the question The question asks for the term for a pause that falls in the middle of a line of poetry.

2. Explain the concept A caesura (from the Latin word for "cutting") is a break or pause within a line of verse. It is often marked by punctuation such as a comma, full stop, semicolon or dash. It can also fall naturally where the reader pauses when reading aloud.

Example from Alexander Pope: "To err is human, || to forgive, divine." The pause after "human" is the caesura.

3. Check each option

• A. Tetrametre: a line with four metrical feet. It describes line length, not a pause.
• B. Rhythm: the overall pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables. It is not a pause.
• C. Caesura: a pause in the middle of a line. This matches the question.
• D. Assonance: the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words, such as "the rain in Spain". It is a sound device, not a pause.

4. Answer The correct option is C. caesura.

5. Exam tip Remember: caesura = "cut" in the middle of the line. Also keep this related term in mind: enjambment is when a line runs on into the next line with no pause at its end. Caesura is a pause inside a line, while end-stopped lines pause at the end.