Syllables and Rhyme Syllables and Rhyme SchemeScheme

Elements of PoetryElements of Poetry

Syllable CountSyllable Count

In order to fully understand poetry, In order to fully understand poetry, you have to be able to you have to be able to correctly dividecorrectly divide words into their syllables.words into their syllables.

You have to You have to looklook at the word and at the word and listenlisten to how it sounds in order to do to how it sounds in order to do this, and it takes some practice!this, and it takes some practice!

Syllable Count cont.Syllable Count cont.

Sometimes counting the syllables on Sometimes counting the syllables on your fingers as you say the word is your fingers as you say the word is the easy way to start.the easy way to start.

How many syllables does the word How many syllables does the word “classroom” have?“classroom” have?

Syllable Count cont.Syllable Count cont.

How about these words?How about these words?

PaperPaper SyllableSyllable PoetryPoetry DictionaryDictionary

DividingDividing

You also have to know how to You also have to know how to divide the divide the word into syllablesword into syllables on paper. on paper.

You simply separate the syllables with a You simply separate the syllables with a dividing linedividing line..

Example: divide the word “classroom” Example: divide the word “classroom” into its syllablesinto its syllables

RHYME SCHEMERHYME SCHEME

The pattern of The pattern of end rhymeend rhyme in a in a stanza or poem.stanza or poem.

You are looking at the You are looking at the last word of last word of each lineeach line in order to determine in order to determine rhyme scheme.rhyme scheme.

RHYME SCHEME CONT.RHYME SCHEME CONT.

Generally labeled with Generally labeled with lower-case lower-case lettersletters, with each letter assigned a , with each letter assigned a different ending sound.different ending sound.

You always label the You always label the first line as first line as “a”“a” and then go from there. and then go from there.

For example…For example…

Take the first 2 lines of a popular nursery Take the first 2 lines of a popular nursery rhyme:rhyme:

Sing a song of sixpence, a A pocket full of rye,

You label the first line as “a”. Does the second line rhyme with the first?

No, it doesn’t…so you label it with the next No, it doesn’t…so you label it with the next letter and then look at the next line.letter and then look at the next line.

Sing a song of sixpence, a A pocket full of rye, b Four and twenty blackbirds,

What letter do you give the 3rd line?

Since it doesn’t rhyme with either of the Since it doesn’t rhyme with either of the first 2 lines, you give it a “c” and then first 2 lines, you give it a “c” and then continue on.continue on.

Sing a song of sixpence, a A pocket full of rye, b Four and twenty blackbirds, c Baked in a pie.

What do you label the 4th line? Be careful!

Since “pie” rhymes with “rye”, it gets the Since “pie” rhymes with “rye”, it gets the same letter (b).same letter (b).

Sing a song of sixpence, a A pocket full of rye, b Four and twenty blackbirds, c Baked in a pie. b

Here’s the entire poem…Here’s the entire poem… Sing a song of sixpence, a

A pocket full of rye, bFour and twenty blackbirds, cBaked in a pie. bWhen the pie was opened, dThe birds began to sing. eWas this not a dainty dish fTo set before the king? e

Remember…Remember…

General rule when labeling rhyme General rule when labeling rhyme scheme…scheme…

Any lines who end with words that Any lines who end with words that rhyme get the same letter rhyme get the same letter throughout the throughout the entire poem.entire poem.