After you have classified verses based on the word with which they end and on the number of poetic syllables they contain, the next step is to determine the rhyme. Most of the poems in Aproximaciones do represent patterns of rhyme, although rhyme in a poem is optional and is often omitted, especially in more contemporary poems. When it does appear, poetic rhyme is either consonant or assonant.

Task 1. Read and Define. The authors present a definition of rhyme in the second paragraph of this section, on page 129 of the text. Read the paragraph and then answer the following questions.

1.			What is poetic rhyme?
2.			What is la vocal tónica?
3.			What is un fonema?
4.			Why is the classification of the last word in each verse important in determining the pattern of rhyme?

Task 2. Guess.

5.			What do you think the difference is between rima consonante and rima asonante?

Task 3. Paraphrase and Compare. In the next two paragraphs, on page 130 of the text, the authors define the two major types of rhyme. Read and paraphrase the definitions.

6.			There is rima consonante when
7.			There is rima asonante when
8.			How do these explanations compare to your original guess?

Task 4. Fill in the Blanks. Within the definition of rima consonante in the text, the authors provide other important information about representing rhyme. Fill in the missing information in this quote from page 130 of the text and make sure that you understand what it means.

9.			Para marcar la rima se usan letras __________ y __________ del alfabeto. Las __________ representan versos de __________ __________ y las __________ de __________ __________; __________ significa que el verso es __________, es decir, sin __________.

Task 5. Explain.

10.			Within the definition of rima asonante on page 130, the authors explain the difference between verso blanco (or suelto) and verso libre. Explain the difference and how you can prevent confusion between the two.

Task 6. Scan for Information.

11.			Scan the last paragraph in the section on rhyme, on page 131. What does it tell you to do about diphthongs when determining rhyme? What are the syllabification rules for diphthongs?

Study Hint: Determining the Rhyme of a Poem

Step 1. Identify the last word in each line (aguda, llana, esdrújula, sobresdrújula).

Step 2. Identify the tonic vowel/syllable in the last word in each line (last, second-to-last, third-to-last).

Step 3. Establish the pattern of sounds. If a pattern of vowels is repeated, the rhyme is assonant. If a pattern of a vowel plus consonant is repeated, the rhyme is consonant.

Examples:

Task 7. Practice with Rhyme.

12.			Look at the examples of rhyme on pages 130-131 of the text. Can you identify and explain the type of rhyme without referring to the definitions?
13.			Individually or in a group determine the type of rhyme in the poem "A una rosa" you examined previously.