Rhyme Schemes

[Donna in OH]

We continue to work on rhyme schemes, and I have a question about the IG p. 24.

The Rhyme Scheme for the week 3 poem (The Coming of Spring) is stated to be "AABB CCDD..."

However, I understood rhyme scheme to be based on the pattern, not on specific sounds (and to "reset" after each stanza). The second stanza of this poem, if analyzed independently of the first, would have a rhyme scheme of AABB.

If you can clarify this for me I will appreciate it! See my post from Sept "Another Birthdays question" and the responses to understand my perspective.

Thanks!
Donna

[Lene]

Yes,

The rhyme scheme of a poem, which consists of two or more stanzas that are four lines long, where the first and second lines rhyme and the third and fourth lines rhyme, is simply a rhyme scheme of AABB. Nothing more needs to be noted in terms of rhyme scheme when scanning the poem. (If it says AABB, CCDD, EEFF, etc... it's slightly... eh... not wrong... but unnecessary, since rhyme scheme is a generic pattern for every stanza and is only stated once).

The AABB, then CCDD, etc - designation of rhymes can be useful when we're looking at the poem and targeting specific sounds, wanting to make sure that it is understood that the first stanza's rhyme sounds are not the same as the second stanza's rhyme sounds.

For example, as you will see later in Dante's Divine comedy, the rhymescheme is

ABA
BCB
CDC
DED

etc...

so the that middle ending sound of the previous stanza becomes the rhyme sound of the next stanza, and so forth, so that the stanzas are "nested" together in this unique way.

We will see more of that in the next poetry book.

Now, I don't have the Poetry IG in front of me (in fact, I currently don't own a copy, I didn't proof that book, but I DO need to have a copy), so I will flag Kathy in case more needs to be said about this. Things that I cannot see since I don't have the book.

Lene

[Donna in OH]

Thanks very much - that clears it up for me. I appreciate your help. We are thoroughly enjoying our poetry studies!

Donna