Rhyme - GCSE English Language Definition

Rhyme is when two or more words have the same or similar ending sounds, often used at the end of lines in poetry. Common types include end rhyme (at the end of lines) and internal rhyme (within a line). Words like “night” and “light” rhyme because they share the same sound.

Poets use rhyme to create rhythm, link ideas, and make their poems more memorable or musical. In GCSE English Literature, identifying rhyme can help you explore how a poem’s sound supports its meaning, mood, or tone.

Example of rhyme in a GCSE text

In 'Exposure' by Wilfred Owen, rhyme is used to reflect the harsh, repetitive nature of war. For example:

“Our brains ache, in the merciless iced east winds that knive us...
Wearied we keep awake because the night is silent...
...but nothing happens.”

Here, Owen uses half-rhyme (like “knive us” / “nervous” or “silent” / “salient”) to unsettle the reader, showing how war disrupts the natural order and the soldiers' thoughts.