Rhyme Scheme Quiz

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Date:

Instructions: Test your ability to identify and understand the rhyme patterns that give poetry its musical quality

1.
What is a 'rhyme scheme'?
A
A plan to make words rhyme
B
A list of rhyming words
C
The pattern of end rhymes in a poem, represented by letters like ABAB
D
The rhythm of a poem
2.
In the rhyme scheme ABAB, which lines rhyme with each other?
A
Lines 1 and 3, lines 2 and 4
B
No lines rhyme
C
All four lines rhyme
D
Lines 1 and 2, lines 3 and 4
3.
What rhyme scheme do the quatrains of a Shakespearean sonnet follow?
A
AABB
B
ABBA
C
ABAB
D
ABCD
4.
What is a 'couplet' rhyme scheme?
A
ABAB
B
AA (two consecutive rhyming lines)
C
ABCABC
D
ABBA
5.
What is 'perfect rhyme' (also called exact rhyme or true rhyme)?
A
Words that are spelled the same
B
Words where the final stressed vowel and all following sounds are identical, like 'cat' and 'hat'
C
Any words that sound somewhat similar
D
Words that have the same number of syllables
6.
What is 'slant rhyme' (also called near rhyme or half rhyme)?
A
Words that rhyme in another language
B
Words that rhyme perfectly
C
Words with similar but not identical sounds, like 'shape' and 'keep'
D
Words that rhyme only when whispered
7.
What is 'internal rhyme'?
A
A rhyme between the title and the last line
B
A rhyme that occurs within a single line of poetry, rather than at the end of lines
C
A hidden rhyme the reader must discover
D
A rhyme that occurs only in the poet's mind
8.
What rhyme scheme does a limerick follow?
A
ABCABC
B
AABB
C
ABAB
D
AABBA
9.
What is 'eye rhyme'?
A
A rhyme you can only see on paper
B
A rhyme about eyes
C
A rhyme between two visual poems
D
Words that look like they should rhyme based on spelling but do not sound alike, such as 'love' and 'move'
10.
The rhyme scheme ABBA is also known as:
A
Free rhyme
B
Running rhyme
C
Alternate rhyme
D
Enclosed rhyme (or envelope rhyme)
11.
What rhyme scheme does a Petrarchan sonnet's octave (first 8 lines) typically follow?
A
ABCDABCD
B
ABABABAB
C
ABBAABBA
D
AABBCCDD
12.
What is 'masculine rhyme'?
A
Rhyme in action poetry
B
A particularly strong-sounding rhyme
C
A rhyme on a single stressed syllable at the end of a line, like 'bake' and 'lake'
D
Rhyme used only by male poets
13.
What is 'feminine rhyme'?
A
Rhyme used only by female poets
B
A soft, gentle-sounding rhyme
C
A rhyme involving two or more syllables, where the stress falls on the first, like 'living' and 'giving'
D
Rhyme in romantic poetry only
14.
The interlocking rhyme scheme ABA BCB CDC is characteristic of which poetic form?
A
Limerick
B
Terza rima (used by Dante in the Divine Comedy)
C
Sonnet
D
Haiku
15.
What is 'free verse' in terms of rhyme scheme?
A
Poetry that uses only perfect rhymes
B
Poetry that does not follow any regular rhyme scheme or meter
C
Poetry that strictly follows ABAB
D
Poetry that is free to download

Answer Key

Question 1

C. The pattern of end rhymes in a poem, represented by letters like ABAB

Question 2

A. Lines 1 and 3, lines 2 and 4

Question 3

C. ABAB

Question 4

B. AA (two consecutive rhyming lines)

Question 5

B. Words where the final stressed vowel and all following sounds are identical, like 'cat' and 'hat'

Question 6

C. Words with similar but not identical sounds, like 'shape' and 'keep'

Question 7

B. A rhyme that occurs within a single line of poetry, rather than at the end of lines

Question 8

D. AABBA

Question 9

D. Words that look like they should rhyme based on spelling but do not sound alike, such as 'love' and 'move'

Question 10

D. Enclosed rhyme (or envelope rhyme)

Question 11

C. ABBAABBA

Question 12

C. A rhyme on a single stressed syllable at the end of a line, like 'bake' and 'lake'

Question 13

C. A rhyme involving two or more syllables, where the stress falls on the first, like 'living' and 'giving'

Question 14

B. Terza rima (used by Dante in the Divine Comedy)

Question 15

B. Poetry that does not follow any regular rhyme scheme or meter

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