Clausula (rhetoric)

In Roman rhetoric, a clausula (/ˈklɔːzjʊlə/, plural clausulae /ˈklɔːzjʊli/; Latin for "little close or conclusion") was a rhythmic figure used to add finality to the end of a sentence or phrase. There was a large range of popular clausulae. One of the most common rhythms was cretic + trochee (– u – – x), for example vīta trānscurrit or illa tempestās, and variations of this, such as the well-known Ciceronian esse videātur (– u uu – x).

Different authors had different preferences for clausulae. For example, the cretic + trochee and its variants make up 35% of the clausulae in Seneca's letters, but only 11% of the clausulae in Livy's history. Conversely, the double spondee (e.g. accēpērunt – – – –) makes up 36% of Livy's clausulae, but only 11% in Seneca's letters.^[1]