Poetry offers various forms of rhyme, and one of them is monorhyme. Let's dive deeper into this type of rhyme scheme in the world of poetry.
Monorhyme is a rhyme scheme that uses only one end rhyme in a passage, verse, or stanza, or the entire poem itself. The prefix "mono-" means "one," denoting that the piece has a single consistent rhyme throughout.
A monorhyme poem follows the same end rhyme in every verse or the entire piece. For instance, "Silent Silent Night" by William Blake (1863) is a monorhyme poem. Let's take a look at its rhyme scheme:
Silent Silent NightQuench the holy lightOf thy torches brightFor possess'd of dayThousand spirits strayThat sweet joys betrayWhy should joys be sweetUsed with deceitNor with sorrows meetBut an honest joyDoes itself destroyFor a harlot coy (William Blake, "Silent Silent Night", 1863)
In this poem, each line within a stanza ends with the same rhyme, creating a rhyme scheme of AAA BBB CCC. Hence, we can conclude that the poem adopts a monorhyme structure.
Rhyme scheme refers to the pattern used in structuring a poem. It is often represented using letters, such as ABABAB for alternating rhymes or AAA for matching rhymes. For monorhyme, the rhyme scheme comprises repeated rhymes in groups, either within small sections of the piece or for the entire poem. For example, a monorhyme poem's rhyme scheme could be AAAA BBBB CCCC DD or AAA AAA AAA.
In "Silent Silent Night," Blake uses an identical rhyme for each verse, resulting in a rhyme scheme of AAA BBB CCC. This indicates that the poem follows a monorhyme structure.
Let's closely examine each verse of Blake's "Silent Silent Night" to identify the identical rhymes used.
Silent Silent NightQuench the holy lightOf thy torches bright
In this verse, the final words of each line, "Night," "light," and "bright," all end in the same sound /ai/ and consonant /t/, making them identical rhymes.
For possess'd of dayThousand spirits strayThat sweet joys betray
In this verse, the identical rhyme consists of the sound /ei/ in "day," "stray," and "betray," along with the same final consonant, the letter "y." Additionally, we can see that Blake spells "possessed" as "possess'd," which was common in the past when strict spelling and punctuation were not followed.
In the last two verses, the monorhyme continues with different sounds and endings.
Why should joys be sweetUsed with deceitNor with sorrows meet
The monorhyme in this verse contains the sound /i:/ in "sweet," "deceit," and "meet," along with the same final consonant, "t."
But an honest joyDoes itself destroyFor a harlot coy
In this final verse, we can see the monorhyme of sound /ɔɪ/ in "joy," "destroy," and "coy," as well as the same final consonant, "y."
Throughout history, many poets have used monorhyme, including Shakespeare and John Donne.
In Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice, he utilizes monorhyme in the form of a riddle spoken by the character Prince of Morocco:
All that glisters is not gold,Often you have heard that told;Many a man his life hath soldBut my outside to behold:Gilded tombs do worms infold.Had you been as wise as bold,Young in limbs, in judgment old,Your answer had not been inscroll'd:Fare you well, your suit is cold. (Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, 1597)
In this example, every line ends with the same rhyme, with words like "gold," "told," and "sold" having identical sounds and endings. Similarly, John Donne used monorhyme in his satirical "letter-poems," such as his letter to friend Rowland Woodward:
Like one who in her third widowhood doth professHerself a nun, tied to retiredness,So affects my Muse, now, a chaste fallowness;Since she to few, yet to too many hath shown,How love-song weeds and satiric thorns are grown,Where seeds of better arts were early sown.
In poetry, the terms "stanza" and "verse" can be used interchangeably, both referring to a group of lines or a single line in a poem. One technique often used in poetry is monorhyme, where every line in a stanza or the entire poem ends with the same rhyme. This stylistic choice adds a distinct rhythm and flow to the poem, as seen in John Donne's letter to his friend Rowland Woodward in the 1590s.
At first glance, Donne's poem appears to have a consistent rhyme scheme of AAA, with words like "profess," "retiredness," and "fallowness" all sharing the same rhyme in the first stanza. However, as the poem progresses, the use of less identical rhymes can be observed, possibly indicating the poet's experimentation or the need to find suitable rhymes. This gradual change in rhyme scheme becomes more pronounced in the 10th stanza, where words like "roam" and "home" are rhymed despite having different endings. This deliberate choice by Donne may have been to emphasize his loss of inspiration.
In addition to identical rhymes, monorhyme can also include historical rhymes, which were perfect rhymes in the past but have evolved due to changes in pronunciation. This is evident in William Gay's excerpt from "The Sorrowful Fate of Bartholomew Jones," where the words "stone" and "known" are rhymed, despite not having the same ending. Another example of monorhyme can be found in Mary Electa Adams' poem "By the Marshes of Tantramar," where she describes a setting sun with fluidity in the number of syllables per line while maintaining a consistent rhythm. This flexibility in syllable count can also be seen in the closing stanza of the poem, adding variety and depth to the overall structure.
The use of monorhyme allows poets to be creative, as seen in the satirical "The Sorrowful Fate of Bartholomew Jones," where it adds pace and rhythm to the reading experience. It is a versatile form of poetry that can be used for various purposes, whether it be for humor, philosophy, or even riddles, adding a unique touch to any piece.
In conclusion, although monorhyme may have been criticized as "mere doggerel," its use can enrich the reader's understanding and enjoyment of a poem. So why not try your hand at creating a monorhyme and explore the endless possibilities it offers?
A monorhyme poem is a type of poetry that features a repeated rhyme in each verse or throughout the entire poem. It typically follows a rhyme scheme of AAA, utilizing identical rhymes that share the same sound and end in the same consonants. Despite its reputation for being associated with poorly written poetry, monorhyme is a versatile form of poetry that allows for creativity and flexibility while maintaining a consistent structure.
A monorhyme poem is a poem that utilizes the same end rhyme in each verse or throughout the entire poem. This means that the final syllables of each line have the same sound and consonant ending. It adds a distinct rhythm and flow to the poem, creating a cohesive piece of literature.
One famous example of monorhyme can be found in William Blake's "Silent, Silent Night." This poem follows a consistent rhyme scheme of AAA, with each line ending in the same rhyme. Other examples include John Donne's letter to his friend Rowland Woodward and Mary Electa Adams' "By the Marshes of Tantramar."
To write a monorhyme poem, one must use the same end rhyme for each line in a stanza or throughout the entire poem. This can be achieved by brainstorming words that share the same rhyme and incorporating them into the poem in a deliberate and creative manner. With practice, anyone can craft a memorable monorhyme poem and showcase their talents as a poet.
