Rhymed Verse in Different Genres

A sonnet is a 14-line poem written in iambic pentameter, with a specific rhyme scheme. The most common rhyme scheme for a sonnet is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.

Alternate rhyme is a rhyme scheme in which the first and second lines rhyme, the third and fourth lines rhyme, and so on. This is the most common rhyme scheme in English poetry.

A quatrain is a four-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme. The most common rhyme schemes for quatrains are ABAB, ABBA, and AABB.

Half rhyme is a rhyme scheme in which the first, second, and fourth lines rhyme, and the third line does not rhyme. This type of rhyme scheme is often used in humorous or lighthearted poetry.

An octave is a stanza with eight lines, each with a different rhyme scheme. The most common rhyme schemes for octaves are ABAB CDCD, ABBA CDDC, and ABBA ABBA.

Enclosed rhyme is a rhyme scheme in which the first, third, and fifth lines rhyme, and the second, fourth, and sixth lines rhyme. This type of rhyme scheme is often used in narrative poetry.

A villanelle is a nineteen-line poem with five tercets followed by a quatrain. The first and third lines of the first tercet are repeated alternately as the third line of the following tercets and the last line of the quatrain.

Slant rhyme is a rhyme scheme in which the first, second, fourth, and fifth lines rhyme, and the third and sixth lines rhyme. This type of rhyme scheme is often used in modern poetry.

A tercet is a three-line stanza with a specific rhyme scheme. The most common rhyme schemes for tercets are ABA, ABC, and ABB.

Eye rhyme is a rhyme scheme in which the first, third, and fourth lines rhyme, and the second line does not rhyme. This type of rhyme scheme is often used in humorous or lighthearted poetry.

An epic is a long narrative poem that tells the story of a hero or a group of heroes. Epics are often written in a grand and elevated style.

Masculine rhyme is a rhyme scheme in which the last syllable of each rhyming word is stressed. This is the most common type of rhyme in English poetry.

A sestina is a poem with six stanzas of six lines each, followed by a three-line stanza. The first, fourth, fifth, and sixth lines of each stanza are repeated in the same order in the following stanzas, while the second and third lines are repeated in reverse order.

Feminine rhyme is a rhyme scheme in which the last two syllables of each rhyming word are stressed. This type of rhyme is often used in love poetry and other romantic genres.

A ballad is a type of narrative poem that tells a story in a simple, direct style. Ballads often use a refrain, or repeated line or phrase, at the end of each stanza.