RHYME AND REASONWhy is rhyme an essential
element of poetry?
Rhyme
Two words that differ only initial sound Three types of rhyme placement:
End Rhyme Initial Rhyme Medial Rhyme
Placement of Rhyme
1. End Rhyme – xxxxxxxx fill/xxxxxxxx spill
2. initial Rhyme – We xxxxxxx/ see xxxxxxxx
3. Medial Rhyme Internal Rhyme: xxxx thou xxxx cow
Close Rhyme: hug xxx lug xxx
Interlaced Rhyme: xxxx door xxxx/ xxxx floor xxxx
Types of Rhyme
1. Perfect Rhyme – however many syllables rhyme , initial sound is different. Example: run/sun; honey/bunny;
hominy/domini
2. Identical Rhyme – rhyming words are identical-Ex. :bear/bear;hairy/hairy;element/elementRich rhyme – when the rhyming words are homonyms: bear/bare
3. Near Rhyme –approximate rhymes chosen for poetic effect.
Why would a poet use rhyme?
Rhyme Scheme
Mark the first line with a. Mark all other lines in the entire poem that rhyme with it as a. (If there are no others then do not worry)
Find the first line in the poem that does not rhyme with a. Mark it b. Mark all other lines in the poem that rhyme with that line b.
Continue with the next unmarked line. Follow the procedure until all rhyming lines are marked.
Rhymeless lines you can leave unmarked or mark them with an x.
Rhyming and Stanzas
Stanza Length Rhyme Scheme
Rhyming Couplets aa
Tercets (Three line stanzas) axa or aaa
Terza rima – set of tercets with interlocking rhyme
aba; bcb cdc, and so on
Quatrains: four line stanzas Six types
Single rhyme xbyb
Cross rhyme abab
Envelope rhyme abba
Opposed couplets aabb
Omar khayyam stanza aaxa
Monorhyme aaaa
Effects of Rhyme scheme
Delayed rhyme – putting off expected rhyme (suspense)
Accelerated rhyme – moving up anticipated rhyme- (surprise)