Rhyme schemes and Usage

Read the stanza below. What is its rhyme scheme? The sun is high, the day is bright, I watch the birds take happy flight. My dog runs fast across the grass, I hope these moments always last.

• ABAB

• AABB

• ABCA

• ABCD

Answer explanation

To find the rhyme scheme, we label the rhyming words. The first line ends with 'bright'. The second line ends with 'flight', which rhymes with 'bright', so they are both 'A'. The third line ends with 'grass'. The fourth line ends with 'last', which rhymes with 'grass', so they are both 'B'. This creates an AABB pattern.

Match each type of poem to its common rhyme scheme and structure.

• A funny, five-line poem with an AABBA rhyme scheme.

• Sonnet (Shakespearean)

• A 14-line poem with an ABAB CDCD EFEF GG rhyme scheme.

• Haiku

• A three-line poem with a 5-7-5 syllable structure that does not rhyme.

• Limerick

Answer explanation

Each poem type is matched with its specific structural and rhyming rules. Limericks are AABBA, Haikus are non-rhyming, and Sonnets have a specific 14-line pattern.

Read the stanza below. What is its rhyme scheme? The stars begin to gleam, The world is soft and low, A silent, silver stream, Where quiet waters flow.

• AABB

• ABCB

• ABAB

• ABCD

Answer explanation

The first line ends in 'gleam' (A). The second line ends in 'low' (B). The third line ends in 'stream', which rhymes with 'gleam' (A). The fourth line ends in 'flow', which rhymes with 'low' (B). This creates an ABAB pattern.

Sort these stanzas into two groups: 'Has a Rhyme Scheme' or 'Free Verse (No Rhyme Scheme)'.

Groups:

(a) Has a Rhyme Scheme

,

(b) Free Verse (No Rhyme Scheme)

• The old wooden gate / hangs on a rusty hinge, / creaking when the wind whispers.

• The stars are out tonight, / A beautiful and wondrous sight.

• Sunlight filters through the leaves, / painting patterns on the sidewalk.

• I love to read a book, / And take a second look.

Answer explanation

The stanzas with rhyming end words ('tonight'/'sight', 'book'/'look') have a rhyme scheme. The others, which sound more like natural speech without end rhymes, are free verse.

When poets and readers use letters like A, B, and C to map out a poem's rhyming pattern, what are they identifying?

• The poem's rhythm

• The poem's rhyme scheme

• The poem's main idea

• The poem's number of stanzas

Answer explanation

The letters (A, B, C, etc.) are a special notation used specifically to represent the pattern of rhymes at the end of lines in a poem, which is called the rhyme scheme.

Read the first three lines of this stanza. Which line below would best complete the AABB rhyme scheme? I saw a ship upon the sea, (A) It sailed along so happily. (A) The waves were big and blue, (B)

• The sky was clear and bright.

• And I was happy too. (B)

• A seagull flew right past.

• I wished I was on board.

Answer explanation

To complete an AABB scheme, the fourth line must rhyme with the third line ('blue'). The word 'too' rhymes with 'blue', correctly finishing the B rhyme.

Match each rhyme scheme notation to its correct description.

• Two rhyming couplets, where lines 1 & 2 rhyme, and lines 3 & 4 rhyme.

• ABCB

• Enclosed rhyme, where lines 1 & 4 rhyme, and lines 2 & 3 rhyme.

• ABBA

• Alternating rhyme, where lines 1 & 3 rhyme, and lines 2 & 4 rhyme.

• ABAB

• Only the second and fourth lines rhyme.

• AABB

Answer explanation

Each notation represents a specific pattern: AABB is paired rhymes (couplets), ABAB alternates, ABCB has only one pair, and ABBA encloses a rhyming pair.

Read the stanza below. What is its rhyme scheme? The old house stands upon the hill, The paint is cracked and gray. The air is very cold and still, At the closing of the day.

• AABB

• ABAB

• ABCB

• ABCA

Answer explanation

The first line ends in 'hill' (A). The second line ends in 'gray' (B). The third line ends in 'still', which does not rhyme with the previous lines (C). The fourth line ends in 'day', which rhymes with 'gray' (B). This creates an ABCB pattern.

Sort the following short poems by their rhyme scheme: AABB or ABAB.

Groups:

(a) AABB

,

(b) ABAB

• The moon is very bright, It shines upon the night. I see a lonely star, It seems so very far.

• The sun is warm, The sky is blue, Safe from harm, My love is true.

• I like to ride my bike, And feel the morning air, There's nothing I don't like, Without a single care.

• My homework is all done, I'm ready now for fun. I'll go outside and play, For the rest of the day.

Answer explanation

To sort the poems, you must identify the rhyme scheme for each one. Poems where the first two lines rhyme and the next two lines rhyme (e.g., done/fun, play/day) are AABB. Poems where the first and third lines rhyme and the second and fourth lines rhyme (e.g., warm/harm, blue/true) are ABAB.

Read the stanza below. Which line prevents the stanza from having a consistent AABB rhyme scheme? The stars are out tonight, They make a lovely sight. The moon is big and round, Floating high above the town.

• The stars are out tonight,

• They make a lovely sight.

• The moon is big and round,

• Floating high above the town.

Answer explanation

In an AABB rhyme scheme, the first two lines should rhyme and the last two lines should rhyme. Lines 1 and 2 rhyme ('tonight' and 'sight'), creating the 'AA' pattern. For the 'BB' pattern, line 3 ('round') should rhyme with line 4. However, 'town' does not rhyme with 'round', so the last line breaks the AABB pattern.