What is rhyme?
Rhyme is not the same as rhythm. Rhyme refers to patterns of common
sounds. The most common type of rhyme occurs at the end of a line. The
pattern of rhyming sounds in a poem is called the rhyme
scheme. Rhyme schemes are indicated with letters. The letter A
is written beside the first line. All lines of the poem that rhyme with
the first line also receive the letter A. The next line not rhyming with
the first line is given the letter B. All sentences rhyming with this
line are also given the letter B. The process continues until all of the
lines receive a letter. Look at the example below.
“The Voice” (Excerpt)
Thomas Hardy
| Woman much missed, how you
call to me, call to me |
A |
| Saying that now you are not
as you were |
B |
| When you had changed from the one who
was all to me, |
A |
| But as at first, when our day was fair.
|
B |
Not all poems rhyme perfectly. Some poetry only has parts that rhyme.
This is called imperfect rhyme. Other poetry does not rhyme at all. This
is called “free verse.”
| “Winter Trees”
(Excerpt) |
| William Carlos Williams |
All the complicated details
of the attiring and
the disattiring are completed!
A liquid moon
moves gently among
the long branches. |
|