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Difficulty: MediumAnalysis of Poetic Form, Structure, and Rhyme Scheme

Read the unseen excerpt below:

The old cathedral looms against the sky,
Its towering spires carved in ancient stone,
Where weary travelers wander all alone,
Beneath the watchful moon that burns on high.
Soft autumn leaves descend upon the street,
And chill winds whisper through the courtyard door,
While shadows linger by the iron floor,
To guide the silent steps of passing feet.

What is the predominant rhyme scheme of the eight-line passage above?

  1. abba cddcAnswer
  2. B
    abab cdcd
  3. C
    abba abba
  4. D
    abba cdcd

Answer

The rhyme scheme of the passage is abba cddc.
The poem consists of two four-line stanzas (quatrains), each utilizing an enclosed envelope rhyme. The first stanza pairs 'sky'/'high' (a) around 'stone'/'alone' (b) to form 'abba'. The second stanza pairs 'street'/'feet' (c) around 'door'/'floor' (d) to form 'cddc'. Combining them gives the overall scheme 'abba cddc'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Examine the end-words of the first four lines (first quatrain)
Line 1 ends with 'sky' (a). Line 2 ends with 'stone' (b). Line 3 ends with 'alone' (b). Line 4 ends with 'high' (a). The pattern for lines 1–4 is abba.
'sky' and 'high' rhyme together (a), while 'stone' and 'alone' rhyme together (b).
2
Examine the end-words of the final four lines (second quatrain)
Line 5 ends with 'street' (c). Line 6 ends with 'door' (d). Line 7 ends with 'floor' (d). Line 8 ends with 'feet' (c). The pattern for lines 5–8 is cddc.
'street' and 'feet' rhyme together (c), while 'door' and 'floor' rhyme together (d).
3
Combine the patterns of both stanzas
The total rhyme scheme is abba cddc.
Joining the envelope rhyme structures of both quatrains yields abba cddc.

Key Concept

Analysis of End-Rhyme Scheme in Unseen Poetry
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Analysis of Poetic Form, Structure, and Rhyme Scheme

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