Literary Device: Catalexis

Incompleteness of the last foot at the end of a verse.

Example:

One more unfortunate,
Weary of breath,
Rashly importunate,
Gone to her death!

Function:

The first and third lines given are dactylic, but the second and last lines are missing the syllables which would normally complete the dactyl. Perhaps the author employs the techniques because the incompleteness in the lines emphasizes that the life lost was not yet complete, the character not ready to die. Or perhaps it was employed in order to add an 'abrupt sounding' quality to the piece, reenforcing the premature nature of the death.