Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature Practice Exam

Which term describes a minor disruption in the flow of poetry?

1. Chiasmus

2. Bathos

3. Caesura

4. Cacophony

The correct answer is: Caesura

The term that describes a minor disruption in the flow of poetry is caesura. A caesura is a pause or break within a line of verse, often occurring in the middle, allowing for a natural flow of speech while contributing to the rhythm and emotional emphasis of the poem. This pause can create a moment of reflection, tension, or transition, enhancing the overall meaning and experience of the poem without completely breaking its continuity. Bathos, on the other hand, refers to an abrupt shift from the serious to the trivial or ridiculous, which is more about tone than a structural pause. Cacophony describes a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds, often used to convey chaos or disarray in the auditory quality of poetry rather than indicating a structural moment. Chiasmus is a rhetorical device that involves a reversal in the order of words or phrases in parallel expressions, which does not pertain to the flow of poetry but instead focuses on word arrangement and syntax.