Rhyme scheme | Literary Term | English Literature | Major English | Plus Two Level

Rhyme scheme | Literary Term | English Literature | Major English | Plus Two Level

Rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhyme that comes at the end of each verse or line in poetry. The rhyme scheme may follow a fixed pattern (as in a sonnet) or may be arranged freely according to the poet's requirements. Many poems are written in free verse style. The use of a scheme, or pattern, came about before poems were written down; when they were passed along in song or oral poetry. Since many of these poems were long, telling of great heroes, battles, and other important cultural events, the rhyme scheme helped with memorization. A rhyme scheme also helps give a verse movement, providing a break before changing thoughts. The four-line stanza, or quatrain, is usually written with the first line rhyming with the third line, and the second line rhyming with the fourth line, abab. The English sonnet generally has three quatrains and a couplet, such as abab, cdcd, efef, gg. The Italian sonnet has two quatrains and a sestet, or six-line stanza, such as abba, abba, cde, cde. Rhyme schemes were adapted to meet the artistic and expressive needs of the poet.

For example: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (By Donald Barthelme)

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,                   (A)

How I wonder what you are.                 (A)

Up above the world so high,                 (B)

Like a diamond in the sky.                    (B)