Rhyme Scheme

Rhyme Scheme

Objectives

After this lesson, students will be able to

define 'rhyme scheme'

explain the process of identifying and labeling a poem's rhyme scheme

summarize key characteristics of poetry that requires a particular rhyme scheme [ie. couplet, quatrain, etc...]

Rhyme Scheme

Rhyme Scheme is the pattern in which sounds in lines of poetry end.

 

Each new sound in a poem is assigned a different letter. (The first line of a rhyming poem is always assigned the letter “a.”) 

If a sound repeats, it is assigned the same letter as the line in which the same sound appeared.

Couplet

Twinkle, Twinkle, little star        A

How I wonder what you are?     A

Up above the world so bright     B

Like a diamond in the night        B

This poem is a Couplet poem.

The Rhyme Scheme of a Couplet poem is AABB.

Tercet

A tercet is a poem, or stanza, written in three lines.

Usually rhymes.

Lines 1 and 2 can rhyme; lines 1 and 3 can rhyme; sometimes all 3 lines rhyme.

Quatrain

Quatrains are four line poems that may follow any of one of the four different rhyme schemes. (ABAB, AABB, ABBA, ABCA)

Find the Rhyme Scheme

in the following poems.

Multiple Choice

Little kitten rolling around,

Chasing a piece of string,

Fluid in its beauty,

Amazed at everything.

• aabb

• abcb

• abab

Multiple Choice

The moon is washing windows,

Dancing off the glass,

Resting on the praying trees

And painting the sleeping grass.

• aabb

• abcc

• abcb

Multiple Choice

Here’s a mouse,

Building its house,

A nest in my hair –

Why’s it sleep there?

• abcd

• abcc

• aabb

Multiple Choice

Glitter on my fingers,

Glitter in my hair,

Glitter on the carpet –

Glitter everywhere!

• abcd

• aabb

• abcb

Multiple Choice

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

What kind of stanza is these lines from a poem?

• couplet

• tercet

• quatrain

Multiple Choice

The lady who has loved you as you've grown

Will always love and cherish you for all time.

She has the greatest heart ever known.

What kind of stanza is these lines from a poem?

• couplet

• tercet

• quatrain

Multiple Choice

I saw a little hermit crab

His coloring was oh so drab

These line make a...

• couplet

• tercet

• quatrain

Multiple Choice

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,

Life is but an empty dream!—

For the soul is dead that slumbers,

And things are not what they seem.

What is the rhyme scheme of these lines from a poem?

• AABB

• ABAB

• ABBA

Multiple Choice

On the beach I find myself

Happily patrolling the shore

I see many ships sailing about

And wonder what they're for

• AABB

• DEFE

• ABCB

Multiple Choice

The fallen leaves are cornflakes

That fills the lawn's wide dish,

And night and noon

The wind's a spoon

That stirs them with a swish

• AABBB

• ABABC

• ABCCB

Multiple Choice

True friends are by your side

through it all

True friends are there

to catch you when you fall

• ABCB

• AABB

• ABAB

Multiple Choice

When you wish upon a star,

makes no difference who you are,

anything you heart desires will come to you

• BAC

• AAA

• AAB

Multiple Choice

Read the following poem. What is the rhyme scheme?

I love the sun

I love the moon

I love having fun

I love a nice tune

I love life!

I love my cars

I love my home

I love the stars

I love to roam.

I love life!

• ababa, ababa

• aabbc, aabbx

• ababc, ababc

• abca, abca