Couplet Rhyme (AABB)

About

Each pair of consecutive lines rhymes together. Simple, punchy, and satisfying.

Explanation

The AABB rhyme scheme pairs lines together: line 1 rhymes with line 2, line 3 rhymes with line 4, and so on. This creates a sense of completion every two lines, giving the poem a rhythmic, almost musical quality. Couplets work particularly well for witty, epigrammatic poetry because each rhyme delivers a small payoff. Alexander Pope mastered this form in the 18th century, using "heroic couplets" (iambic pentameter couplets) for satirical effect. The danger of AABB is that it can feel sing-songy or predictable. The best couplet poetry varies its syntax, running sentences across the rhyme to avoid monotony.

Example

Tyger Tyger, burning bright, (A)

In the forests of the night; (A)

What immortal hand or eye, (B)

Could frame thy fearful symmetry? (B)

— William Blake, "The Tyger"

Famous Poems

• The Tyger by William Blake
• The Lamb by William Blake
• The Rape of the Lock by Alexander Pope
• An Essay on Criticism by Alexander Pope
• To His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell

Writing Tips

• Vary your sentence structure to avoid a sing-song effect. Let sentences run across the rhyme.
• Use enjambment (continuing a sentence past the line break) to create tension before the rhyme arrives.
• Choose strong rhymes that feel inevitable, not forced. Weak rhymes stand out more in couplets.
• Consider end-stopping one line and enjambing the next for rhythmic variety.
• Couplets excel at wit and wordplay. Use the form for epigrams, satire, or memorable statements.