CREATIVE WRITING

Poetry & Rhyme

What is rhyme?

The basic definition of rhyme is two words that sound alike.

Usually, the vowel sounds are the same and the consonant is different. Book, nook

Why rhyme?

Among many reasons, the following are the most common:

Rhyme helps to unify a poem.It also repeats a sound that links one concept

to another, thus helping to determine the structure of a poem or emphasize an idea.

When two subsequent lines rhyme, it is likely that they are thematically linked.

Connect to a rhythm/meter; add musicality.

Various Types of Rhyme (not fully inclusive)

Perfect rhymes (pure, strict) Internal rhyme End rhyme Masculine rhyme Feminine rhyme Identical rhyme

General Rhymes (use of words that are similar) Slant rhyme Eye-rhyme Assonance Alliteration Apocopated rhyme

Internal Rhyme

Rhyme inside a lines of a poem or a word inside a line that that rhymes with a word at the end of a line

Ex: As he spoke, the child began to choke.

End Rhyme

Rhyme at the ends of lines of poetryEx:

Time frozen on a faceDreams drift to a place

Masculine Rhyme

Rhyme in which only one syllable is matched.Example:

I fell in the pit And lost my mitt

Feminine Rhyme

More than one syllable rhymes. Example from William Shakespeare’s “Sonnet

20” A woman’s face with nature’s own hand painted,

Hast thou, the master mistress of my passion;A woman’s gentle heart, but not acquaintedWith shifting change, as is false women’s fashion...But since she prick’d thee out for women’s pleasure,Mine be thy love and thy love’s use their treasure.

Identical Rhyme

Using the same word in repetition.End rhyme or Internal RhymeEx (E. Dickinson)

We paused before a house that seemedA Swelling of the Ground—The Roof was scarcely visible--  The Cornice--in the Ground.

Slant Rhyme

Slant rhyme (Near rhyme) -- is a rhyme that is close

Ex: As we walked up to the place She entered, face locked in daze

Eye rhyme

Also known as visual rhyme or sight rhymea similarity in spelling between words that

are pronounced differently and hence, not an auditory rhyme.

Examples: Slaughter & laughter Move & love Rain & again

Assonance

Matching vowelsshake, hateAssonance is sometimes used to refer to slant

rhymes.

Alliteration

Matching initial consonants(short,ship)

Apocopated Rhyme

Occurs when the last syllable of one of the rhymes is missing.

Ex: Trap; happen Wet; netted Ease; treason

A poem should be wordlessAs the flight of birds.

Example

The Fresh Prince of Bel Air Theme Song This is a YouTube video of the theme song.

See handout for lyrics.What types of rhymes do you see? Make

notes on your copy as I play the song.

Rhyme Scheme

A rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhyming lines in a poem or song.

It is usually referred to by using letters to indicate which lines rhyme.

In other words, it is the pattern of end rhymes or lines.

Can help when figuring out a poetic form (more on this to come).

Example of Rhyme Scheme

Bid me to weep, and I will weep AWhile I have eyes to see; BAnd having none, and yet I will keep AA heart to weep for thee. B

Example

“My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke You can listen to two different people read it by

clicking on this link.

See worksheet.

Food for Thought

Rhyme works best when it doesn’t call attention to itself.

A rhymed word stands out. Think of a rhyme as an echo.

More Rhymes

“Glossary of Rhymes”

Homework

Write a poem that uses as many types of rhyme as you can (perfect and general).

Label your rhymes (end, internal, eye, etc.) so that I know you understand what you’ve done.

For extra credit, include a type of rhyme we did not discuss in class today.

Next Class

MeterSpecific Types of Rhyme Schemes