Question

complete the rhyme scheme.

the sun was shining on the sea,
shining with all his might:
he did his very best to make
the billows smooth and bright—
and this was odd, because it was
the middle of the night.

from lewis carroll, \the walrus and the carpenter\

Explanation:

To determine the rhyme scheme, we analyze the end - words of each line:

Step 1: Analyze the first line

The first line ends with "sea". We assign it the letter "A".

Step 2: Analyze the second line

The second line ends with "might". Since it does not rhyme with "sea", we assign it a new letter, "B".

Step 3: Analyze the third line

The third line ends with "make". It does not rhyme with "sea" (A) or "might" (B), so we assign it "C".

Step 4: Analyze the fourth line

The fourth line ends with "bright". It rhymes with "might" (B), so we assign it "B".

Step 5: Analyze the fifth line

The fifth line ends with "was". It does not rhyme with "sea" (A), "might" (B), or "make" (C), so we assign it "D".

Step 6: Analyze the sixth line

The sixth line ends with "night". It rhymes with "bright" (B) and "might" (B)? Wait, no. Wait, "night" rhymes with "might"? Wait, "might" is pronounced /maɪt/ and "night" is /naɪt/, so they rhyme. Wait, also "bright" is /braɪt/. So "might", "bright", "night" rhyme. Wait, let's re - evaluate:

• Line 1: "sea" - A
• Line 2: "might" - B
• Line 3: "make" - C
• Line 4: "bright" - B (rhymes with "might")
• Line 5: "was" - D
• Line 6: "night" - B (rhymes with "might" and "bright")

So the rhyme scheme is: A, B, C, B, D, B

Answer:

To determine the rhyme scheme, we analyze the end - words of each line:

Step 1: Analyze the first line

The first line ends with "sea". We assign it the letter "A".

Step 2: Analyze the second line

The second line ends with "might". Since it does not rhyme with "sea", we assign it a new letter, "B".

Step 3: Analyze the third line

The third line ends with "make". It does not rhyme with "sea" (A) or "might" (B), so we assign it "C".

Step 4: Analyze the fourth line

The fourth line ends with "bright". It rhymes with "might" (B), so we assign it "B".

Step 5: Analyze the fifth line

The fifth line ends with "was". It does not rhyme with "sea" (A), "might" (B), or "make" (C), so we assign it "D".

Step 6: Analyze the sixth line

The sixth line ends with "night". It rhymes with "bright" (B) and "might" (B)? Wait, no. Wait, "night" rhymes with "might"? Wait, "might" is pronounced /maɪt/ and "night" is /naɪt/, so they rhyme. Wait, also "bright" is /braɪt/. So "might", "bright", "night" rhyme. Wait, let's re - evaluate:

• Line 1: "sea" - A
• Line 2: "might" - B
• Line 3: "make" - C
• Line 4: "bright" - B (rhymes with "might")
• Line 5: "was" - D
• Line 6: "night" - B (rhymes with "might" and "bright")

So the rhyme scheme is: A, B, C, B, D, B