Rhyme Scheme

Rhyme Scheme

Rhyme scheme refers to the pattern of rhymes at the end of each line of a poem or song. It is often represented by a series of letters, where each letter corresponds to a particular rhyme. For example, the rhyme scheme of a poem might be ABAB, meaning that the first and third lines rhyme with each other, as do the second and fourth lines. Rhyme scheme can be used to create a sense of structure and order in a poem, and to enhance the musicality and memorability of the language.

A rhyme scheme is the ordered pattern made by line-ending rhymes. Assign the same letter to endings that rhyme and a new letter to each new sound, then consider how the pattern shapes expectation or closure.

See it in language

Examples of Rhyme Scheme

The line endings are light (A), rain (B), night (A), and again (B): ABAB.
Instructional example
The stanza ends with stone, air, alone, and care.
Instructional example
Stone/alone and air/care establish an ABAB end-rhyme pattern.
Three lines end in shore, flame, and more, followed by a fourth ending in flame.
Instructional example
Shore/more and flame/flame produce an ABAB scheme despite the paired rhymes appearing nonadjacently.

Show more examples

Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening"
— This poem uses a rhyme scheme of AABA BBCC CDCD EE, which creates a sense of repetition and structure that matches the peaceful, meditative mood of the poem.
Tupac Shakur's "Dear Mama"
— This classic rap song uses a rhyme scheme of AABB, where each pair of lines rhymes with each other, creating a steady and rhythmic flow that matches the emotional intensity of the lyrics.
William Shakespeare's Sonnets
— Shakespeare's sonnets often employ a variety of different rhyme schemes, such as ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which creates a sense of complexity and variety that matches the themes of love, beauty, and mortality in his poetry.
Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky"
— This nonsense poem uses a variety of made-up words and a loose rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which creates a playful and whimsical effect that matches the surreal and fantastical imagery of the poem.
Emily Dickinson's "Because I could not stop for Death"
— This poem uses a unique rhyme scheme of ABCB DEFE, which creates a sense of unpredictability and ambiguity that matches the mysterious and unsettling subject matter.

Read like an editor

How to recognize it

Read only the final stressed sound and any sounds after it in each line.
Assign matching rhyme sounds the same letter and each new sound a new letter.
Describe meaningful repetition, disruption, or closure in the resulting pattern.

Meaning and effect

Why writers use Rhyme Scheme

Build rhythm: Expected rhyme positions work with meter and phrasing to shape movement.
Improve memorability: Recurring end sounds make a stanza easier to anticipate and recall.
Organize sound: A repeated end-rhyme pattern structures sonic relationships across lines.

Common confusion

Rhyme Scheme vs. Rhythm and Rhyme

Rhyme scheme names the ordered line-ending pattern; rhythm and rhyme is the broader interaction of beat and recurring sound.

A rhyme scheme maps end-rhyme positions across lines.

“stone / air / alone / care forms ABAB.”

Rhythm and Rhyme

Rhythm and rhyme includes beat, pacing, and rhyming sound more broadly.

“Repeated stresses and echoing sounds give the refrain musical movement.”

Questions readers ask

Frequently asked questions

Does a poem need a rhyme scheme?

No. Free verse may use occasional rhyme without maintaining a regular end-rhyme pattern.

Can a rhyme scheme change?

Yes. A shift in pattern can mark a new stanza, speaker, mood, or structural turn.