What is rhyme?
Rhyme is the same as rhythm. Rhyme refers to patterns of common sounds,
while rhythm refers to the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.
There are different types of rhyme. The most common type of rhyme involves
patterns of similar sounds 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.
Excerpt from Australia
A.D. Hope
| They call her a young country,
but they lie |
A |
| She is the last of lands,
the emptiest |
B |
| A woman beyond her change of life, a breast
|
A |
| Still tender, but within the womb is dry.
|
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.
| A Season In Hell |
| by Arthur Rimbaud |
| |
My eternal soul,
Redeem your promise,
In spite if the night alone
And the day on fire. |
|