Internal rhyme

Definition

Internal rhyme refers to a poetic device where a word within a line of verse rhymes with another word in the same line or in the middle of a nearby line. This technique adds musicality and enhances the rhythm of the poem, creating a pleasing sound pattern that can evoke emotions and emphasize particular themes or ideas.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Internal rhyme can be used to create a faster pace in a poem, adding excitement and urgency to the reading experience.
2. This technique can highlight specific images or ideas within a line, drawing the reader's attention to those elements.
3. Internal rhyme is often found in narrative poetry and can help to maintain rhythm over longer verses.
4. Many famous poets, including Edgar Allan Poe and Lord Byron, have effectively utilized internal rhyme to enrich their poetic works.
5. When used strategically, internal rhyme can contribute to a poem’s mood, enhancing feelings such as joy, sorrow, or tension.

Review Questions

• How does internal rhyme contribute to the overall musicality of a poem?
  • Internal rhyme enhances the musical quality of poetry by creating rhythmic patterns and sound effects within individual lines. This rhythmic interplay can evoke emotions and draw attention to specific themes or ideas presented in the poem. By incorporating internal rhyme, poets can craft verses that are not only enjoyable to read but also resonate with deeper meanings.
• Compare and contrast internal rhyme and end rhyme in terms of their effects on poetic structure and reader engagement.
  • Internal rhyme occurs within lines and can create an immediate impact on rhythm and pace, drawing readers in quickly with its sound patterns. In contrast, end rhyme provides closure and resolution at the ends of lines, often giving a sense of completion. While both techniques enhance a poem's auditory appeal, internal rhyme tends to create a more dynamic reading experience due to its placement within lines.
• Evaluate how internal rhyme interacts with other poetic devices like meter and assonance to create a cohesive piece of literature.
  • Internal rhyme works alongside meter and assonance to produce a rich auditory landscape in poetry. By aligning rhymed words with specific metrical patterns, poets can craft verses that flow smoothly while also capturing attention through unexpected sound pairings. The integration of assonance further enriches this experience by linking vowel sounds across lines or within them, thereby deepening the emotional resonance and thematic cohesion throughout the poem.

Related terms

end rhyme: End rhyme is a rhyme that occurs at the end of lines in poetry, contrasting with internal rhyme where the rhyming words are within the same line.

meter: Meter is the structured rhythm of a poem, determined by the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables, which can be complemented by techniques like internal rhyme.

assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within closely placed words, which can work alongside internal rhyme to enhance the overall auditory experience of a poem.