Literary term
Internal rhyme
Rhyme that occurs within a single line, not just at the line endings.
What it means
Internal rhyme is rhyme that occurs within a single line of poetry, rather than only at the ends of lines. A word in the middle of a line may rhyme with the word at its end. Or two words within the same line may chime together.
This device adds a layer of music beyond the end-rhyme scheme. It can quicken the pace, draw attention to particular words or create a playful, songlike quality. Because it works inside the line, internal rhyme rewards a reader who listens closely to the whole sound of a poem.
Why it matters in the exam
In Literature, noticing internal rhyme shows the examiner that you read a poem with your ear as well as your eye. It gives you extra sound effects to analyse beyond the obvious end rhymes. Explain how the internal chime speeds a line up or links two ideas.
This shows close, musical reading that lifts an answer into the higher marks.
Example
A line such as "the rushing, gushing river ran past the town" hides a rhyme in the middle, which quickens the pace and makes the water feel fast.
How to use it
Read the line aloud in your head and listen for rhymes that fall inside it rather than at the end. Explain the effect: a faster pace, a link between two words, or a musical, memorable quality. Connect it to the poem's mood or subject.
Be careful not to mistake ordinary repetition of a word for internal rhyme.
Knowing the term is the first step. In a paid one-hour trial, a teacher helps your child use "Internal rhyme" accurately in an answer.