Rhyme time is not a crime!

How embarrassing for Americans! Trivia: Did you know that in the 1990s, American textbook companies decided that the traditional spelling of “rhyme” was too difficult for American students? They changed the spelling to an easier version: “rime.” When teachers rebelled, the textbook companies changed the spelling back in future editions of their textbooks! How embarrassing for Americans!

People love rhymes! This started when you were very young and your parents read you “nursery” rhymes!

How do you create rhymes?

Creating Rhyme: What actually creates a “rhyme”? The first test is always to focus on the vowel sounds! If the vowels are not close enough, you cannot create rhyme! The second test is matching up the following (usually consonant) sounds.

time / dime hate / articulate Creating Rhyme: examples of rhymes first, the vowel sounds [i] match second, the following sounds [...me] match hate / articulate first, the vowel sounds [a] match second, the following sounds [...te] match

day / date sight / ripe Creating Rhyme: examples of NON rhymes first, the vowel sounds [a] match BUT, the following sounds do NOT match sight / ripe first, the vowel sounds [i] match BUT, the following sounds do NOT match

Does this make sense now? Read the definition you have in your notes for rhyme. Does this make sense now?

End Rhyme vs. Internal Rhyme

End Rhyme: rhymes that occur at the ends of lines of poetry; this is the most common type O, God of dust and rainbows, help us see, That without dust the rainbow would not be.

Internal Rhyme: rhymes that occur between a word in the middle of a line with a word at the end of the same line Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary. The movie was great; lots of popcorn I ate.

Exact Rhyme vs. Slant Rhyme

Exact Rhyme: when two words have the exact sounds in common (it’s a perfect match!) I went to turn the grass once after one Who mowed it in the dew before the sun.

Slant Rhyme: when two words have some sounds in common but do not rhyme exactly (it’s close enough) All of evening softly lit As an astral hall – “Father,” I observed to Heaven, “You are punctual!”

Slant Rhyme is also referred to as: close rhyme near rhyme approximate rhyme

Rhyme Scheme                                                             

Rhyme Scheme is the pattern in which sounds in lines of poetry end (you are only looking at the last word in every line). Each new sound in a poem is assigned a different letter. (The first line of a rhyming poem is always assigned the letter “a” – lowercase) If a sound repeats, it is assigned the same letter as the line in which the same sound appeared.

Rhyme schemes continue through to the end of a poem, no matter how many lines or stanzas it contains; do not start over with a new rhyme scheme in each stanza. If you find a line that rhymes with a previous line, label it with the same letter as the earlier line. Remember that a line in the third stanza of a poem could rhyme with a line in the first stanza. Also be aware of slant or near rhymes, which are words that sound similar but do not exactly match.

Find the Rhyme Scheme in the following poems:

Mary had a little lamb Whose Fleece was white as snow, And everywhere that Mary went The lamb was sure to go.

Mary had a little lamb Whose Fleece was white as snow, And everywhere that Mary went The lamb was sure to go. a b c b

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall All the king’s horses and all the king's men Couldn't put Humpty together again.

a a b b Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall All the kings horses and all the king's men Couldn't put Humpty together again. a b b

Look at the poems in your poetry packet. Let’s give this a try.

We will do two together to begin.

Label the rhyme scheme for “Fire and Ice” “Fire and Ice” Robert Frost   Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I've tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice.

Label the rhyme scheme now before I show you the answers.

Label the rhyme scheme for “Fire and Ice” “Fire and Ice” Robert Frost   Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I've tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice. a b c

Label the rhyme scheme for “Meeting at Night” by Robert Browning The grey sea and the long black land; And the yellow half-moon large and low; And the startled little waves that leap In fiery ringlets from their sleep, As I gain the cove with pushing prow And quench its speed i’ the slushy sand.   Then a mile of warm sea-scented beach; Three fields to cross till a farm appears; A tap at the pane, the quick sharp scratch And blue spurt of a lighted match, And a voice less loud, thro’ its joys and fears, Than the two hearts beating each to each!

Label the rhyme scheme now before I show you the answers.

Label the rhyme scheme for “Meeting at Night” by Robert Browning The grey sea and the long black land; And the yellow half-moon large and low; And the startled little waves that leap In fiery ringlets from their sleep, As I gain the cove with pushing prow And quench its speed i’ the slushy sand.   Then a mile of warm sea-scented beach; Three fields to cross till a farm appears; A tap at the pane, the quick sharp scratch And blue spurt of a lighted match, And a voice less loud, thro’ its joys and fears, Than the two hearts beating each to each! a b c d e f

Now label the rest of the poems.