What Is Internal Rhyme? | Definition & Examples

Internal rhyme occurs when words within the same line or in the middle of different lines rhyme with each other, instead of at the end of lines. This creates a subtle, musical effect and adds rhythm without the predictability of end rhyme.

You’ll often find internal rhymes in song lyrics, rap, nursery rhymes, and all kinds of poetry, both classic and contemporary.

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What is internal rhyme in poetry?

Internal rhyme (also called middle rhyme) is a rhyming technique where words rhyme within the same line of poetry or between the middle parts of different lines. In the example above from Macbeth, the rhyming words appear in a single line.

Unlike end rhyme, which creates obvious rhyming patterns at line endings, internal rhyme works more subtly as one of many poetry techniques available to writers. This literary device can appear in any style of writing, whether you’re working with strict rhyme schemes and meter or exploring free verse. This flexibility makes internal rhyme particularly appealing to contemporary poetry, where authors want to add musical elements without committing to traditional verse structure.

Internal rhyme has many uses in poetry and songwriting. It builds sound patterns that make poems more enjoyable to read aloud, helps create rhythm even without a set structure, and can make lyrics or poems easier to remember without relying on the predictable pattern of end rhymes.

Internal rhyme vs. end rhyme: key differences

The main difference between internal rhyme and end rhyme comes down to their placement within a line of poetry:

• End rhymes occur at the end of lines, providing a sense of completion and establishing clear rhyme schemes, such as ABAB or AABB.
• In contrast, internal rhymes occur within lines, adding a rhythmic flow that makes your poetry feel more lively and less predictable.

Many poets use both internal and end rhymes to make their writing more engaging. For example, Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven showcases this technique. He effectively combined internal rhyme (dreary/weary, napping/tapping/rapping) with end rhyme (lore/door). Although he uses internal rhyme a lot in this poem, at certain points he chooses to break it, subverting the reader’s expectation. This adds to the eerie, unsettling feeling of the poem.

Unlike Macbeth, internal rhyme (napping/tapping/rapping) appears both in the same line and in the middle of the next one.

Internal rhyme and line breaks

The way you structure your lines greatly influences how rhyme feels in your poetry. Line breaks, in particular, can shift internal rhymes into end rhymes, creating different rhythmic effects. Consider the following example:

This illustrates how line breaks shape rhyme placement and the reader’s experience of rhythm.

Why writers use internal rhyme

Writers use internal rhyme because it helps them enhance their work in many ways:

• Subtlety: Internal rhyme adds a melodic quality without being overt. It blends naturally into the text, creating a rhythm that lingers in the ear. This makes the lines memorable and enjoyable to read aloud, especially in contemporary poems and lyrics.
• Momentum: By linking sounds within a line, internal rhyme helps maintain the flow of a poem or lyric, keeping the reader or listener engaged. It encourages a smooth progression through the text, reducing abrupt pauses and emphasizing continuity, key in spoken word and performance poetry.
• Creative freedom: Internal rhyme offers flexibility, allowing writers to place rhymes anywhere within a line. This freedom invites experimentation with pacing, emphasis, and rhythm, making it ideal for free verse or unconventional poetry styles.
• Enhanced reader experience: The seamless integration of rhymes enriches the text without imposing strict patterns. This allows writers to demonstrate their skill with sound and meaning, making their work both sophisticated and accessible.

Internal rhyme examples

To see how these effects work in practice, consider the following examples.

In the line below from Percy Bysshe Shelley’s The Cloud, internal rhyme adds a gentle, musical quality that echoes the soft rain and shade the poem describes.

Internal rhyme is especially common in rap and hip-hop lyrics. Eminem uses lots of internal rhyme to create a fast, punchy rhythm and keep the energy high. The combination of internal and end rhyme makes songs easier to remember.

Related poetic devices

Internal rhyme works well alongside other techniques that writers use to create musical effects in their writing. Here are some closely related devices:

• Assonance.The repetition of vowel sounds within words in the same line or phrase. Like internal rhyme, assonance creates a subtle musical quality. For example, “Hear the mellow wedding bells” repeats the “e” sound.
• Consonance.The repetition of consonant sounds at the end of words or within words. This creates a pleasing echo effect, such as in “last and lost” or “pitter patter.”
• Alliteration. The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of nearby words. While more obvious than internal rhyme, it serves a similar purpose: “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”
• Repetition. The deliberate reuse of words or phrases for emphasis and rhythm. Like internal rhyme, repetition creates unity and helps important ideas stick in the reader’s mind. For example, “And miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.” (Robert Frost) 
• Onomatopoeia. Words that imitate the sounds they describe, like “splash” or “chirp.” These sound words work well with internal rhyme because they make the writing even more interesting to listen to.

Writers often combine internal rhyme with several of these techniques to create vivid, layered sounds in their work. This not only brings their writing to life but also helps it stick in the reader’s mind.

Let’s revisit the lines from Macbeth (these lines are also known as the “Song of the Witches”) to see how Shakespeare combines internal rhyme with other poetic devices to make the witches’ chant more memorable.

• Internal rhyme: “Double” rhymes with “trouble” and “bubble” rhymes with “trouble”  across lines.
• End rhyme: Pairs like “trouble/bubble” and “snake/bake” create a predictable, rhythmic structure, giving the chant a hypnotic and ritualistic feel.
• Alliteration: Repeating sounds like the “f” in “Fillet of a fenny” and the “b” in “boil and bake” draw attention to the words, adding intensity and musicality.
• Consonance: The hard “b” sounds in “bubble,” “boil,” and “bake” mimic the bubbling of the cauldron, enhancing the imagery.
• Repetition: “Double, double” immediately establishes the magical, repetitive nature of the spell.

Shakespeare’s blend of these techniques doesn’t just make the witches’ lines catchy; it turns them into an eerie, unforgettable chant that echoes the supernatural themes of the play.

What are some FAQs about internal rhyme?

What are the different types of internal rhyme?

There are three types of internal rhyme:

• Rhyme within the same line: Words rhyme within a single line, as in Poe’s “Annabel Lee”: “For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams/Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;” 
• Rhyme in the middle of consecutive lines: Rhymes appear in the middle of two separate lines, like in Shel Silverstein’s “Snowball”: “I thought I’d keep it as a pet, / And let it sleep with me.”
• Rhyme at the end and middle: A word at the end of the line rhymes with a word in the middle of the next line. For example, “The snowflakes are dancing, floating, and falling. / The church bells are calling, but I will not go.”

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What are the different types of rhyme?

Rhyme comes in several forms:

End rhyme: Rhymes that occur at the end of lines
Internal rhyme: Rhymes within the same line or in the middle of different lines.
Perfect rhyme: Words that match exactly in sound, like “cat” and “hat.”
Imperfect rhyme: Also known as slant rhyme, it occurs when sounds are similar but not identical, like “love” and “move.”
Eye rhyme: Words that look as if they should rhyme but do not when pronounced, such as “love” and “prove.”

Each type creates different musical effects in poetry and prose. Ready to take your poetry or writing to the next level? QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help you fine-tune your work and ensure it flows perfectly