Rhyme Scheme and StanzasMs. MacemoreUnit Two: American Romanticism

What is rhyme scheme?

A rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhyming lines in a poem. It is usually referred to by using letters to indicate which lines rhyme. For example abab indicates a four-line stanza in which the first and third lines rhyme, as do the second and fourth.

Example: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.- From To Anthea, Who May Command Him Any Thing by Robert Herrick

Rhyme Scheme• Each new rhyming sound gets a new letter. Look below:

Sing AThrough BThing ATrue BHope CRing AShoe BString A

Practice

Because I'm happy AClap along if you feel like a room without a roof BBecause I'm happyClap along if you feel like happiness is the truthBecause I'm happyClap along if you know what happiness is to youBecause I'm happyClap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do

- from “Happy” by Pharrell Williams

Practice

How is this one different?

So you wanna play with magic ABoy you should know what you're fallin' for BBaby do you dare to do this C'Cause I'm comin' at you like a dark horse B

- from “Dark Horse” by Katy Perry

Practice – Try this one on your own!

Lately, I've been, I've been losing sleepDreaming about the things that we could beBut baby, I've been, I've been praying hard,Said, no more counting dollarsWe'll be counting starsYeah we'll be counting starsI see this life like a swinging vineSwing my heart across the lineAnd my face is flashing signsSeek it out and you shall findOld, but I'm not that oldYoung, but I'm not that boldI don't think the world is soldI'm just doing what we're toldI feel something so rightDoing the wrong thingI feel something so wrongDoing the right thingI could lie, coudn't I, could lieEverything that kills me makes me feel alive

- from “Counting Stars” by One Republic

Were you right?Lately, I've been, I've been losing sleep ADreaming about the things that we could be ABut baby, I've been, I've been praying hard, BSaid, no more counting dollars CWe'll be counting stars BYeah we'll be counting stars BI see this life like a swinging vine DSwing my heart across the line DAnd my face is flashing signs DSeek it out and you shall find DOld, but I'm not that old EYoung, but I'm not that bold EI don't think the world is sold EI'm just doing what we're told EI feel something so right FDoing the wrong thing GI feel something so wrong HDoing the right thing GI could lie, coudn't I, could lie FEverything that kills me makes me feel alive F

- from “Counting Stars” by One Republic

Practice

Say something, I'm giving up on youI'll be the one, if you want me toAnywhere, I would've followed youSay something, I'm giving up on youAnd I am feeling so smallIt was over my headI know nothing at allAnd I will stumble and fallI'm still learning to loveJust starting to crawl

- from “Say Something” by A Great Big World

Were you right?

Say something, I'm giving up on you AI'll be the one, if you want me to AAnywhere, I would've followed you ASay something, I'm giving up on you AAnd I am feeling so small BIt was over my head CI know nothing at all BAnd I will stumble and fall BI'm still learning to love DJust starting to crawl B

- from “Say Something” by A Great Big World

What is a stanza?A stanza is a group of lines in a poem set apart from one another by spaces in between the sets of lines.

Example:

"Hope" is the thing with feathersThat perches in the soulAnd sings the tune without the wordsAnd never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;And sore must be the stormThat could abash the little birdThat kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest landAnd on the strangest sea,Yet never, in extremity,It asked a crumb of me. - Emily Dickinson