Rhyme Scheme

1. Rhyme Scheme A rhyme scheme is a regular pattern of rhyme, one that is consistent throughout the extent of the poem.  Poems that rhyme without any regular pattern can be called rhyming poems, but  only those poems with an unvarying pattern to their rhymes can be said to have a rhyme scheme.

2. Rhyme schemes are labeled according to their rhyme sounds.   Every rhyme sound is given its own letter of the alphabet to distinguish it from the other rhyme sounds that may appear in the poem.  For example, the first rhyme sound of a poem is designated as a.  Every time that rhyme sound appears in the poem, no matter where it is found, it is called a.  The second rhyme sound to appear in the poem is designated b.  Every other time that rhyme sound appears in the poem, no matter where it is found, it is called b.  The third rhyme sound to appear would be c, the fourth d, and so on, for as many rhyme sounds as appear in the poem.

3. The following short poem illustrates the labeling of a rhyme scheme. There once was a big brown cat aThat liked to eat a lot of mice.         bHe got all round and fataBecause they tasted so nice.            b

4. A rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhyming lines in a poem. Bid me to weep, and I will weep While I have eyes to see; And having none, yet I will keep A heart to weep for thee.

5. Rhyme Scheme Roses are red A Violets are blue B Sugar is sweet C And so are you B

6. Sound not Spelling Rhyme is determined by sound, not spelling, so don’t get fooled. Which of these two pair of words rhyme? puff / enoughthrough / though

7. That Time of Yearby William Shakespeare. That time of year thou mayst in me behold a When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hangb Upon these boughs which shake against the cold a Bare ruined choirs where late the sweet birdssang. b

8. Now you try !! There once was a man from Peru Who dreamt he was eating his shoe. He awoke in a fright In the middle of the night And found it was perfectly true.