rijmschemas

Rijmschemas, or rhyme schemes, describe the pattern of end rhymes in a poem. Each end rhyme is assigned a letter, starting with A for the first line; lines that rhyme share the same letter. The sequence of letters reveals the scheme and helps reveal the poem’s musical structure and progression.

Common schemes include AABB, where lines pair off in rhymes; ABAB, where rhymes alternate; and ABBA, where the first and fourth lines rhyme with each other as do the second and third. The terza rima uses interlocking three-line units with an ABA BCB CDC pattern. Longer fixed forms, such as the Shakespearean sonnet using ABAB CDCD EFEF GG or the Petrarchan octave and sestet, rely on specific schemes, though poets may adapt or mix forms.

Poets may vary schemes within a work to create contrast or development. They also employ variations such as internal rhymes (rhymes within a line), feminine rhymes (rhymes that involve a stressed and an unstressed syllable), masculine rhymes (single stressed syllables), and near or slant rhymes (approximate rhymes). These techniques interact with meter, cadence, and stanza structure to shape emphasis, pace, and mood.

Analysis of a poem’s rijmschema typically involves labeling lines with letters to indicate rhymes and noting deviations or repetitions. The choice of scheme can influence the perception of symmetry, balance, and closure in a poem. The term rijmschema is the Dutch expression for this concept; in English, it is simply called a rhyme scheme. The idea applies across languages and poetic traditions, though actual patterns vary by language and form.