Internal Rhyme

Meaning of internal rhyme

Let's start with a simple definition of internal rhyme:

Here's a simple example of internal rhyme:

As you can see, the rhyming words in this couplet ('cave'/'brave') are in the middle of the lines. In contrast, a couplet with an end rhyme might look this:

An internal rhyme can take place across multiple lines, or it can be contained within a single line. Let's look in more detail at the different variations of the technique.

Types of internal rhyme

There are three common variations of internal rhyme. Let's define each and look at some quick examples to aid our understanding.

Same line

Internal rhyme can occur within the same line of a poem:

Separate lines

It's also possible for internal rhyme to be spread across multiple lines:

End/middle of a line

Internal rhyme can also take place between the end of one line and the middle of the following line:

You'll notice that all three verses are made up of the same sentence. This tells us that we can reposition the same rhyme into numerous configurations simply based on how we arrange the lines. Each time a poet ends a line, we refer to this as a line break.

By using line breaks, poets can completely change both the position of a rhyme and the layout of the verse as a whole. We could even make the above verse an example of end rhymes by placing line breaks after both 'pain' and 'sprain':

Let's look in more detail at the impact of internal rhyme, how it compares to end rhyme, and why a poet may choose to employ a specific rhyming scheme for effect within their poetry.

Fig 1. - A poet may choose to employ a specific rhyming scheme to create different effects.

Internal rhyme: effect

How rhymes are structured can significantly impact how we read poetry, and the difference between end rhymes and internal rhyming is especially significant. This is partly because we naturally emphasise the last word of every line, so end rhymes can be much more recognisable than internal rhymes, which can sometimes go completely unnoticed.

Let's return to two examples from before:

Read each verse aloud. Notice how much more you emphasise the rhymes when they are placed at the end of the line, rather than in the middle? You may also comment that the second example with end rhymes has a more distinct rhythmic quality to it. This is because the structure of the poem gives us clues about which words to accentuate and where to take pauses.

On the other hand, internal rhymes make a poem more rhythmic, beautiful to read, and easier to comprehend without us ever realising it. Modern poetry favours internal rhyme over end rhyme because its musicality is more discreet. This means that a poem can have a distinctly rhythmic quality without the inclusion of rhymes seeming forced or over the top.

Remember! Sometimes internal rhymes are subtle because they aren't perfect rhymes.

However, remember that a rhyme doesn't have to be perfect for it to be beautiful; imperfect rhymes are important too!

Words like 'teen' and 'regime', 'fan' and 'ham', 'leave' and 'love' all share some similar characteristics that give them a rhythmic quality while still being distinct from one another.

Examples of internal rhyme

Let's explore some prominent examples of internal rhyme within poetry.

'The Cloud'

Percy Bysshe Shelley's 'The Cloud' (1820) contains some wonderful examples of internal rhyme:

In this poem, Shelley personifies a cloud, following it on its journey as it provides water for flowers and shade for leaves. The poem has a light-hearted feel to it, owing partly to the internal rhyming, which makes the verses feel joyous and whimsical. Notice how Shelley also imperfectly rhymes 'seas' and 'streams'; the effectiveness of this tells us that a rhyme doesn't need to be perfect for it to be successful.

'The Raven'

Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Raven' (1845) is filled with internal rhyming. Here's an excerpt of the first stanza:

'The Raven' follows two different internal rhyme schemes. The first line of each stanza has an internal rhyme, 'weary'/'dreary') and then lines three, four, and occasionally five have internal rhymes spread throughout them. As Poe writes in an unusually lengthy trochaic octameter (that's sixteen syllables per line!), the internal rhyme is essential to the poem's rhythmic quality.

'The Chimney Sweeper'

For a lesson in subtlety when it comes to internal rhyme, look no further than William Blake's 'The Chimney Sweeper' (1789):

You'll first pick up on the internal rhyming between 'weep', 'sweep' and 'sleep' in this stanza. The repetition of this rhyme pattern in the final two lines makes the poem feel urgent, as though the chimney sweep is crying out in desperation. Harder to notice is the repetition of the 'I' sound replicated across 'my', 'died', 'while' and 'cry'. At first glance, these words have very little in common, but when read aloud, they cleverly combine to make the poem sound more melodic. Try it for yourself!

Internal rhyme: poems

For further reading, here are some more poems and plays that contain excellent examples of internal rhyming.