Exact Rhyme in Poetry in English

Introduction: Exact Rhyme in Poetry

Exact rhyme in poetry, also known as perfect rhymes or true rhymes, is characterized by the precise correspondence of both vowel and consonant sounds in the final stressed syllables of words. They enhance the musicality and rhythm of a poem by creating a harmonious and predictable sound pattern. These rhymes are a fundamental element in traditional poetic forms and contribute to the overall structure and lyrical quality of the verse. They distinguish themselves from near rhymes, which require only similar, not identical, final syllable sounds.

Examples of Exact Rhyme in Poetry

1. Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost:

“He gives his harness bells a shake“

Explanation: In this line, the exact rhyme occurs with the words “shake” and “bells.” The rhyme enhances the musicality of the poem and adds a sense of rhythm, contributing to the wintry atmosphere.

• Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare:

“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”

Explanation: The exact rhyme in this line occurs with “day” and “May.” It provides a musical and harmonious quality to the sonnet, emphasizing the theme of the beauty of the beloved compared to a perfect summer’s day.

• The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe:

“While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping“

Explanation: The exact rhyme between “napping” and “tapping” adds to the eerie and rhythmic quality of Poe’s poem. The repetition of sounds creates a haunting atmosphere.

• Hope is the thing with feathers by Emily Dickinson:

“And never stops – at all -“

Explanation: In this line, the exact rhyme between “all” and “call” contributes to the poem’s musicality and reinforces the idea that hope is a constant and enduring presence.

• I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth:

“Beside the lake, beneath the trees“

Explanation: The exact rhyme between “lake” and “trees” enhances the sense of tranquility and serenity in the poem, emphasizing the beauty of nature.

• Ode to a Nightingale by John Keats:

“Thou still unravish’d bride of quietness!”

Explanation: The exact rhyme between “quietness” and “ness” adds to the ethereal and dreamlike quality of the poem, emphasizing the nightingale’s association with a serene world.

• Dreams by Langston Hughes:

“For if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird“

Explanation: The exact rhyme between “die” and “bird” in this line emphasizes the idea that dreams are crucial, and their absence would leave life broken and incomplete.

These examples demonstrate the use of exact rhymes in poetry to create musicality, rhythm, and thematic resonance, enriching the reader’s experience of the poems.

Types of Exact Rhyme in Poetry

Type	Explanation	Example
Masculine Rhyme	The most common type of exact rhyme where the final stressed syllables share identical sounds.	“moon” and “June”
Feminine Rhyme	An exact rhyme in which the final stressed syllables match, and the following syllables are also identical, creating a two-syllable rhyme.	“dining” and “shining”
Triple Rhyme	Involves an exact rhyme between the final three syllables of words, creating a three-syllable rhyme.	“hilarity” and “charity”
Dactylic Rhyme	The stress falls on the third-to-last syllable, and the following syllables are identical, creating an exact rhyme.	“gymnastics” and “enthusiastics”
Leprechaun Rhyme	An exact rhyme occurring between the second-to-last syllable and the final syllable of words.	“table” and “fable”
Eye Rhyme	Visual rhyme where words look similar but do not rhyme phonetically.	“bough” and “enough”
Syllabic Rhyme	The number of syllables in two words is identical, even if stressed and unstressed syllables differ.	“happily” and “unhappily”
Homophonic Rhyme	Words have the same pronunciation but may be spelled differently.	“flower” and “flour”
Identical Rhyme	The strictest form of exact rhyme where not only the final stressed syllables but also the entire words are identical.	“sun” and “sun”
Monorhyme	Involves repeating the same word or phrase at the end of each line or stanza, often used in poetry for emphasis or to create a musical effect.	Repeating “love” in each line.

How to Create Exact Rhyme in Poetry

1. Choose Words with Matching End Sounds: Select words with identical final syllables or sounds, such as “cat” and “hat,” to create exact rhymes.
2. Maintain Consistent Stress Patterns: Ensure that the stressed syllables leading up to the rhyming words are the same, as in “de-light” and “in-cite.”
3. Utilize Rhyming Dictionaries: Consult rhyming dictionaries or online tools to find suitable words that match the exact rhyme you’re aiming for.
4. Consider Meter and Rhythm: Align your rhyming words with the established meter and rhythmic patterns of your poem for a seamless fit.
5. Experiment with Word Variations: Play with word variations, like plurals or different verb forms, to discover unique exact rhymes that suit your poetic style.

Benefits of Using Exact Rhyme in Poetry

1. Enhance Poetic Sound and Musicality: Exact rhymes create a pleasing and melodic sound in poetry, making the poem more engaging and memorable to the reader or listener.
2. Strengthen Poetic Structure: Exact rhymes can help maintain a structured and organized form in a poem, which can be important in traditional poetic styles like sonnets and ballads.
3. Convey Clarity and Precision: Using exact rhymes can enhance the clarity of the message or theme in a poem, ensuring that the intended words and ideas are easily understood by the audience.
4. Establish a Sense of Unity: Exact rhymes provide a sense of cohesion and unity in a poem, tying together different stanzas and lines, and helping to create a consistent theme or mood.
5. Evoke Emotion and Emphasize Meaning: By using exact rhymes strategically, poets can draw attention to specific words or concepts, adding emphasis and depth to the overall meaning and emotional impact of their work.

Exact Rhyme in Poetry and Literary Theory

Theory	Critiquing Exact Rhymes in Poetry	Key Considerations
Formalism/New Criticism	Evaluate how exact rhyme contributes to the poem’s unity and aesthetics.	– Analyze the impact of rhyme on the poem’s structure and meaning.
Structuralism	Examine the relationships and patterns created by exact rhyme.	– Explore recurring motifs and themes associated with rhyme.
Historical/Cultural	Assess how exact rhyme reflects the cultural and historical context.	– Consider the typicality of rhyme choices within a specific era.
Reader-Response	Analyze how exact rhyme influences reader emotions and interpretations.	– Examine how rhyme enhances or disrupts reader engagement.
Feminist	Investigate how exact rhyme contributes to gender-related themes.	– Explore how rhyme reinforces or subverts gender stereotypes.
Postcolonial	Examine how exact rhyme relates to colonial influences and power dynamics.	– Analyze how rhyme reflects or challenges colonial narratives.
Psychoanalytic	Inquire into how exact rhyme may relate to the poet’s unconscious desires.	– Consider how rhyme choices reflect emotional conflicts.
Marxist	Consider how exact rhyme relates to class, economics, and social structures.	– Analyze how rhyme reflects or critiques dominant class ideology.
Postmodernism	Assess how exact rhyme engages with or subverts postmodern themes.	– Explore how rhyme relates to the fragmentation of language and meaning.
Deconstruction	Investigate how exact rhyme creates binary oppositions and hierarchies.	– Examine how the poem deconstructs these oppositions through rhyme.

Suggested Readings

1. Hollander, John. Rhyme’s Reason: A Guide to English Verse. Yale University Press, 1989.
2. Rico, Gabriel. Writing the Natural Way: Using Right-Brain Techniques to Release Your Expressive Powers. J.P. Tarcher, 2000.
3. Kipperman, Mark. Telling the Little Secrets: American Jewish Writing since the 1980s. Northwestern University Press, 2006.
4. Kolln, Martha J., and Robert Funk. Understanding English Grammar. Pearson, 2002.