Rhyme Scheme

If two stanzas are given, we have to continue the alphabets(letters) to show the rhyme scheme.

e.g.
aabcc ddeff

If these stanzas are given as separate stanzas in two question papers, we can write the rhyme scheme as

1) aabcc
2) aabcc

Means, if two stanzas are given one after another, we have to use next alphabets (letters).

Types of Rhyme Scheme
There are a number of rhyme schemes used in poetry; some of the most popular of which include:

§    Alternate rhyme: It is also known as 'abab' rhyme scheme, it rhymes as “abab cdcd efef ghgh.”

§    Ballade: It contains three stanzas with the rhyme scheme of “ababbcbc” followed by “bcbc.”

§    Monorhyme: It is a poem in which every line uses the same rhyme scheme.

§    Couplet: It contains two-line stanzas with the “aa” rhyme scheme, which often appears as “aa bb cc and dd…”

§    Triplet: It often repeats like a couplet, uses rhyme scheme of “aaa.”

§    Enclosed rhyme: It uses rhyme scheme of “abba”

§    Terza rima rhyme scheme: It uses tercets, three lines stanzas. Its interlocking pattern on end words follows: abba bcb cdc ded and so on.

§    Keats Odes rhyme scheme: In his famous odes, Keats has used a specific rhyme scheme, which is “ababcdecde.”


§    Limerick : A poem uses five lines with a rhyme scheme of “aabba.”

How to write a rhyme scheme:-
1) It is generally written in small alphabets (letters).
2) Write similar alphabets (letters) for lines having rhyming words.
3) Do not write dash or comma in between alphabets (letters).
4) Write next continuing alphabet (letter) for lines having no rhyming word.

Example:-
1.1    THE PERSON I AM LOOKING FOR

If you do not get lowered in your own eyes            a
While you raise yourself in those of others             b
If you do not give in to gossips and lies                  a
Rather heed them not, saying, ‘Who bothers?’       b
You may be the person I am looking for.                c

If you crave not for praise when you win               d
And look not for sympathy while you lose             e
If cheers let not your head toss or spin                   d
And after a set-back you offer no excuse.               e
You may be the person I am looking for.                 f

If you accept counsel without getting sore             g
Andre-assess yourself in the light thereof              h
If you pledge not to be obstinate any more             g
And meet others without any frown or scoff.         h
You may be the person I am looking for.                i

If you have the will to live and courage to die         j
You are a beacon-light for people far and wide       k
If you ignore the jeers and, thus, expose the lie       j
‘That virtue and success do not go side by side.’     k
You are the person I am looking for.                         L

For individual stanza:-
Rhyme scheme –
1) Activity: Write the rhyme scheme of the following stanza.
If you do not get lowered in your own eyes            a
While you raise yourself in those of others             b
If you do not give in to gossips and lies                   a
Rather heed them not, saying, ‘Who bothers?’        b
You may be the person I am looking for.                 c

2) Activity: Write the rhyme scheme of the following stanza.
If you crave not for praise when you win               a
And look not for sympathy while you lose             b
If cheers let not your head toss or spin                   a
And after a set-back you offer no excuse.               b
You may be the person I am looking for.                C

Note that:-
For rhyming pairs use the same alphabets (letters) to show rhyme scheme.

eyes - lies                a

others - bothers     b