Poetry
Explore rhyme, rhythm, metaphor, and simile — and learn how to write your own poems.
Rhyme
Rhyme is when words end with the same sound. Rhyme creates a musical quality and makes poetry pleasing to listen to. A rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhymes at the end of each line, labelled with letters (AABB, ABAB, etc.).
AABB Rhyme Scheme (couplets)
The sun is shining bright and high, A
While fluffy clouds drift through the sky. A
The birds all sing a happy song, B
And children play the whole day long. B
Tip: Not All Poems Rhyme!
Free verse poetry does not follow a rhyme scheme. It uses other techniques like imagery and rhythm to create its effect.
Rhythm
Rhythm is the beat or pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a poem. It gives poetry its flow and makes it feel like music. When you read a poem aloud, you can often hear the rhythm.
"da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM" — This is the rhythm pattern of many well-known poems, where the stress falls on every second syllable.
Try It: Clap the Rhythm
Read this line aloud and clap on the bold syllables: "The CAT sat ON the MAT and SLEPT." Can you hear the beat?
Simile and Metaphor
Poets use figurative language to create vivid pictures in the reader's mind. The two most common types are similes and metaphors.
Simile
Compares two things using "like" or "as".
"Her smile was as bright as the morning sun."
"The leaves fell like golden coins."
Metaphor
Says something is something else (no "like" or "as").
"The world is a stage."
"Her voice was music to my ears."
Other Poetic Devices
Knowledge Check
Test your understanding of poetry concepts.
Question 1
Which of these is a simile?
Question 2
What is a rhyme scheme?
Question 3
"The classroom was a zoo after lunch." This is an example of:
Question 4
"Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers." This is an example of:
Question 5
What is rhythm in poetry?
Question 6
Which word is an example of onomatopoeia?
Question 7
"The trees danced in the breeze." This is an example of:
Question 8
What rhyme scheme does this poem have?
"I love the rain (A)
It cools the air (?)
I watch the drops (?)
Fall everywhere (?)"
Question 9
What is free verse poetry?
Question 10
Which line contains both a simile and alliteration?
Key Concepts Summary
- ●Rhyme is when words end with the same sound. A rhyme scheme is the pattern (AABB, ABAB, etc.).
- ●Rhythm is the beat created by stressed and unstressed syllables.
- ●A simile uses "like" or "as"; a metaphor says something IS something else.
- ●Other devices: alliteration, personification, onomatopoeia, and repetition.