Introduction to Internal Rhyme
It is a poetic device in which words within the same line or stanza of a poem rhyme with each other, typically at the middle or end of the line. This technique enhances the rhythmic and melodic qualities of the verse, creating a sense of cohesion and musicality. It often serves to emphasize key words or ideas, contributing to the overall impact of the poem.
How to Create Internal Rhyme
Here are some tips on how to create it in your writing knowing what internal rhyme is.
| Step | Explanation | Practical Example |
| 1. Choose your rhyming words carefully | Start by selecting words that have similar sounds, such as “day” and “gray” or “moon” and “tune”. You can use a rhyming dictionary or a thesaurus to help you find words that rhyme. | Example: “In the day, the world turns gray.” |
| 2. Experiment with word placement | It can occur within a single line, or it can span multiple lines. Experiment with different word placements to find the one that works best for your piece of writing. | Example: “The moon rises above, in its sweetest tune.” |
| 3. Keep it natural | While It can add a musical quality to your writing, it’s important to make sure it doesn’t sound forced or contrived. Use internal rhyme sparingly and only when it enhances the meaning or impact of your writing. | Example: “Her laughter was like a song, all day long.” |
| 4. Read your writing out loud | Reading your writing out loud can help you hear the natural rhythm and flow of your words. If your internal rhyme sounds awkward or out of place, try rephrasing or revising until it sounds more natural. | Example: “I walked by the shore, the waves began to roar.” |
| 5. Practice, practice, practice | Like any writing technique, creating internal rhyme takes practice. Experiment with different types of internal rhyme, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. The more you practice, the easier it will become to create internal rhyme that enhances the beauty and impact of your writing. | Example: “With each step, my heart’s secrets I’d keep.” |
Benefits of Internal Rhyme
It can offer several benefits to a piece of writing, including:
- Rhythm and Musicality: Internal rhyme contributes to the establishment of a pleasing rhythm and musicality in written text, enhancing its auditory appeal. It engenders a sense of harmony and fluidity, elevating the overall aesthetic quality of the composition.
- Memorability: The strategic use of it enhances the memorability of a written work. The recurrence of sound patterns makes the text easier to commit to memory and recite, rendering it a valuable tool for memorization purposes.
- Emphasis and Emotion: Internal rhyme can serve as a potent tool for emphasizing specific words or concepts, thereby intensifying the emotional impact on the reader or listener. The repetition of phonetic elements can evoke a sense of urgency or significance, directing attention to particular words or phrases.
- Cohesion and Unity: It has the capacity to foster cohesion and unity within a written composition. By weaving recurring sounds and patterns throughout the text, it unifies disparate elements, resulting in a harmonious and integrated whole.
- Creative Expression: Internal rhyme offers a creative avenue for self-expression in writing. It presents a distinctive opportunity to engage with language in an imaginative and whimsical manner, infusing a sense of playfulness and creativity into one’s literary work.
Internal Rhyme and Literary Theory
| Literary Theory | Critique of Internal Rhyme |
| Structuralism | Structuralists might examine how it contributes to the overall structure of a text and how it influences the reader’s interpretation of that structure. They might critique it for not always aligning with formal structural principles. |
| Reader-Response Theory | Reader-response theorists could focus on how internal rhyme engages readers and elicits emotional or cognitive responses. They may critique it for potentially excluding readers who struggle with recognizing internal rhyme. |
| Feminist Criticism | Feminist critics might investigate how it is used to reinforce or challenge gender roles and stereotypes in literature. They may critique it for perpetuating gendered language patterns. |
| Marxist Criticism | Marxist critics may explore how internal rhyme can be used to express or critique class struggles and social inequalities. They could critique it for potentially being a tool of bourgeois aesthetics. |
| Postcolonial Theory | Postcolonial theorists may analyze how it reflects cultural and linguistic imperialism, and they may critique it for perpetuating colonial language structures. |
| Psychoanalytic Theory | Psychoanalytic critics might interpret internal rhyme as a manifestation of the author’s subconscious desires or conflicts. They could critique it for being a potentially shallow representation of deeper psychological themes. |
These are just brief examples of how various literary theories might approach and critique the use of internal rhyme in literature. Literary theory perspectives can vary widely, so the specific critiques may differ depending on the theorists and their interpretations.
Suggested Readings
- Abrams, M.H. A Glossary of Literary Terms. Cengage Learning, 2014.
- Booth, Wayne C. The Rhetoric of Fiction. University of Chicago Press, 1983.
- Hollander, John. Rhyme’s Reason: A Guide to English Verse. Yale University Press, 2001.
- Preminger, Alex, and T.V.F. Brogan (eds.). The New Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics. Princeton University Press, 1993.
- Turco, Lewis. The New Book of Forms: A Handbook of Poetics. University Press of New England, 1986.
- Behn, Robin, and Chase Twichell. The Practice of Poetry: Writing Exercises from Poets Who Teach. Harper Collins Publishers, Inc., 10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022, 1992.