RHYMING IN POETRYMore than Just “The End!”

When people think of poetry, they almost immediately think of rhyming. A common classroom question when assigned poetry writing is, “Does it have to rhyme?” Of course, this question concerns the rhyming often found at the end of the lines of poetry.

It is important to remember, however, that poetry uses an art of rhyming, not only found at the end of lines, but also within the lines of the poems themselves.

We will explore some types of rhyming today. You will then go back to your ballad poetry and mark if and where this rhyming occurs in your own poems.

Definition of “Rhyme”

Rhyme—identical sounds at the ending of words.

i.e. docks and rocks.

Near Rhyme (Slant Rhyme)

Rhyme that is close

Place and daze

Eye-Rhyme (Sight Rhyme)

These are rhymes that look alike but do not sound alike; they rhyme to the eye, not to the ear.

Through and tough

Masculine Rhyme

One-syllable rhyme

Dip and rip

Feminine Rhyme

Two-syllable rhyme

Muddle and puddle

Internal Rhyme

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

As she spoke, the child began to choke.

End Rhyme

(What we are most familiarized with)

Rhyme at the ends of lines of poetry.

Time frozen on saddened face,Dreams drift to a far-off place.

Rhyme Scheme (Rhyme pattern) Using letters (a, b, c . . . ) to show

the arrangement or pattern or a rhyme.

Example to follow…

Summer Breeze

Flowers bloom in sultry airBlue skies wash away the glareThe breeze flutters, leaves danceA cardinal flies and kittens prance.

What is the rhyme scheme?

AABB

AA BB

Putting Rhyme to Practice: Marking Your Ballad Poems Using your ballad poem, mark any of the

rhymes covered in this lesson. It is expected that your ballads should have some type of end rhyme.

You must first notate your “rhyme scheme” with letters in a dark pen or pencil. Remember, each changed sound receives a new letter! Being with “a.”

You will receive a small amount of extra credit if you have included….

Consistent rhyme scheme throughout your poem (aa bb, cc dd, ee ff, etc.). I will verify this based on your required marked rhyme scheme.

Also…. Near (slant) rhyme (underline with

red) Eye rhyme (underline with green) Feminine rhyme (underline with blue) Internal rhyme (underline with

orange)