Rhyme in Poetry: A Contemplation of Necessity

Is Rhyme an Essential Element of Any Poem?

Rhyme is the repetition of similar or identical sounds at the end of words. It

is a poetic device that has been used for centuries to create a sense of
rhythm, flow, and unity in poems. However, not all poems rhyme, and there
is a growing body of poetry written in free verse, which dispenses with
rhyme altogether. This raises the question: is rhyme an essential element
of any poem?

Arguments in Favor of Rhyme

There are several arguments in Favor of the idea that rhyme is essential to
poetry. First, rhyme can help to create a sense of rhythm and flow in a
poem. When words rhyme, the reader or listener is naturally drawn to the
end of each line, creating a sense of anticipation and suspense. This can
help to create a more engaging and memorable experience for the reader.

For example, in William Blake's poem "The Tyger," the rhyme scheme
(AABBCCDD) creates a sense of steady rhythm and forward momentum.
This helps to convey the power and majesty of the tiger, as well as the
speaker's awe and wonder at its existence.

Second, rhyme can help to emphasize certain words or phrases in a poem.

When words rhyme, they are more likely to stand out in the reader's mind.
This can be used by poets to highlight important themes or ideas in their
work.

For example, in Edgar Allan Poe's poem "The Raven," the rhyme scheme
(ABAB CDCD) helps to emphasize the word "nevermore," which is
repeated throughout the poem. This word becomes a symbol of the
speaker's grief and loss, and it helps to create a sense of despair and
hopelessness in the poem.

Third, rhyme can help to create a sense of unity and cohesion in a poem.
When words rhyme, they create a sense of pattern and order. This can
help to tie the different parts of a poem together and create a more unified
whole.

For example, in Alexander Pope's poem "A Modest Proposal," the rhyme
scheme (AABBCC) helps to create a sense of order and structure. This is
appropriate for the poem's subject matter, which is a satirical proposal to
solve the problem of poverty in Ireland.

Arguments Against Rhyme

However, there are also several arguments against the idea that rhyme is
essential to poetry. First, rhyme can be seen as limiting. When poets are
constrained by the need to make words rhyme, it can be difficult for them to
express their ideas freely. This can lead to poems that feel forced or
unnatural.

Some poets argue that rhyme can be a distraction from the meaning of a
poem. They believe that poets should focus on expressing their ideas
clearly and concisely, rather than being constrained by the need to make
words rhyme.

Second, rhyme can be seen as clichéd or overused. Many people

associate rhyme with children's poetry or greeting cards. This can lead to
the perception that rhyme is not a serious or sophisticated poetic device.

Some poets argue that rhyme is no longer necessary in contemporary

poetry. They believe that there are other poetic devices, such as free verse,
that can be used to create equally effective poems.

Conclusion

Ultimately, whether or not rhyme is an essential element of poetry is a

matter of personal preference. Some poets find that rhyme is an essential
tool for their work, while others prefer to write in free verse. There is no
right or wrong answer to this question.

Some of the greatest poems in the English language rhyme, such as

Shakespeare's sonnets and John Milton's Paradise Lost. However, there
are also many great poems that have been written without rhyme, such as
Walt Whitman's Song of Myself and T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land.

The most important thing for a poet is to use the tools that work best for
them to express their ideas and emotions. Rhyme is just one of many tools
that poets have at their disposal.
Works Cited

Dickinson, Emily. "Because I Could Not Stop for Death." The Complete
Poems of Emily Dickinson. Ed. R.W. Franklin. Little, Brown and Company,
1998. Print.

Frost, Robert. "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." Selected Poems

of Robert Frost. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1969. Print.

Keats, John. "Ode to a Nightingale." The Complete Poems of John Keats.

Ed. Nicholas Roe. Penguin Books, 2005. Print.

Shakespeare, William. "Sonnet 18." The Complete Sonnets and Poems of

William Shakespeare. Ed. Colin Burrow. Oxford University Press, 2007.
Print.

Whitman