Poetry: Rhyme and Rhythm
Poetry uses special language and sound patterns to create a musical effect. Rhyme and rhythm are key features.
What You Need to Know
Poetry is a special form of writing that uses carefully chosen words, often arranged in lines and stanzas. Rhyme is when words end with the same sound (e.g. cat/hat, tree/free). Rhythm is the beat or pattern of stressed syllables in a poem — it gives poetry a musical quality.
Key Concepts
Rhyme
Words that end with the same sound
Rhythm
The beat or pattern in a poem
Stanza
A group of lines (like a paragraph)
Repetition
Repeating words or phrases
Example poem:
The rain comes down upon my head, (-head)
I think I'll stay inside instead, (-stead)
I'll read a book and drink some tea, (-tea)
And wait until the sky is free. (-free)
Lines 1 and 2 rhyme (head/instead). Lines 3 and 4 rhyme (tea/free). This is called AABB rhyme scheme.
Key Vocabulary
Rhyme
When words have the same ending sound, e.g. day/play/say, light/night/right.
Rhythm
The beat or flow of a poem when read aloud. Some poems have a steady beat like a heartbeat.
Stanza
A group of lines in a poem, separated by a space. Like a paragraph in poetry.
Line
A single row of text in a poem. Each line starts on a new line (unlike prose).
Knowledge Check
Select the correct answer for each question. Click "Check Answer" to see if you are right.
Question 1
Which pair of words rhymes?
Question 2
What is a stanza in a poem?
Question 3
Which word best completes this rhyming poem? "I have a dog, his name is Rex, / He likes to play and jump and ___."
Question 4
The rhythm of a poem is:
Key Concepts Summary
- ●Poetry uses carefully chosen words arranged in lines and stanzas.
- ●Rhyme is when words share the same ending sound, e.g. cat/bat, tree/free.
- ●Rhythm is the beat or musical pattern of a poem when read aloud.
- ●A stanza is a group of lines in a poem, separated by a space (like a paragraph).