Literary term
Rhyming couplet
A pair of consecutive lines that rhyme with each other.
What it means
A rhyming couplet is a pair of consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme with each other. They usually share a similar length or metre. Because the two lines close so neatly, a couplet can feel complete and satisfying.
It is often used to round off a stanza, a scene or a whole poem with a sense of finality. A couplet can also deliver a sharp, memorable point. That is why it is common at the ends of speeches and sonnets, where a writer wants a strong, quotable conclusion.
Why it matters in the exam
In Literature, a rhyming couplet gives you a clear structural feature to analyse, especially at the close of a poem or a dramatic speech. Explaining how the neat rhyme creates a sense of resolution or drives home a final idea shows understanding of form. Examiners value the link between the couplet's position and its effect, rather than just the observation that two lines rhyme.
Example
A poem about a long journey might end with two rhyming lines that snap shut like a door. This gives the reader a firm sense that the story is complete.
How to use it
Identify the pair of rhyming lines and note where they fall, particularly if they close a stanza or the whole poem. Explain the effect: a sense of completeness, a punchy summary or a neat twist. Connect this to the poem's meaning at that moment.
Do not treat every rhyme as a couplet unless the lines are genuinely paired and consecutive.
Knowing the term is the first step. In a paid one-hour trial, a teacher helps your child use "Rhyming couplet" accurately in an answer.