Which literary device is used below? 'To be, or not to be—that is the question-'

• A. Oxymoron
• B. Metaphor
• C. Caesura
• D. Alliteration

Answer: (C)

Caesaura is a pause in the middle of a line of verse, often shown by punctuation or a natural breath. In "To be, or not to be—that is the question," the dash marks a pause after “to be,” splitting the line into two parts. This break slows the rhythm and invites reflection, which is exactly what a caesura does in dramatic verse. The other options don’t fit here: an oxymoron pairs contradictory terms, a metaphor makes a direct comparison by saying one thing is another, and alliteration repeats initial sounds. Here the feature is the mid-line pause, not a contradiction, not a comparison, and not sound repetition.