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)