What kind of rhyming pattern does Longfellow use in “The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls”? Does the poem ever stray from this pattern? Use specific evidence to illustrate your description.
In "The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls," Henry Wadsworth Longfellow uses a consistent rhyming pattern known as AABCCB. This means that the first and second lines of each stanza rhyme with each other, while the third and fifth lines rhyme with each other. The fourth and sixth lines of every stanza, however, do not have a corresponding rhyme, resulting in an inconsistent pattern for these lines.
Here's an example from the poem to illustrate this:
"The tide rises, the tide falls, (A)
The twilight darkens, the curlew calls; (A)
Along the sea-sands damp and brown (B)
The traveler hastens toward the town, (C)
And the tide rises, the tide falls." (C)
As we can see, the first two lines (A) "The tide rises, the tide falls" and "The twilight darkens, the curlew calls" rhyme with each other. The third and fifth lines (B) "Along the sea-sands damp and brown" and "And the traveler hastens toward the town" also rhyme with each other. However, the fourth and sixth lines do not have a corresponding rhyme, straying from the pattern.
In the poem "The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the poet primarily employs a regular rhyming pattern. The poem follows an ABABCC pattern in each stanza. This means that the first and third lines of each stanza rhyme, as do the second and fourth lines, while the fifth and sixth lines of each stanza have the same rhyme. For example, in the first stanza:
The tide rises, the tide falls (A)
The twilight darkens, the curlew calls (B)
Along the sea-sands damp and brown. (A)
The traveler hastens toward the town, (B)
And the tide rises, the tide falls. (C)
Darkness settles on roofs and walls, (C)
This pattern of rhyme is maintained throughout the poem, creating a consistent and rhythmic structure. However, there is an interesting variation in the last stanza. Here, Longfellow changes the rhyming pattern, deviating from the regular ABABCC scheme. Instead, the final stanza uses an ABACCDD rhyme scheme. An example from the last stanza is:
And the tide rises, the tide falls, (A)
The morning breaks; the steeds in their stalls (B)
Stamp and neigh, as the hostler calls; (A)
The day returns, but nevermore (C)
Returns the traveler to the shore, (C)
And the tide rises, the tide falls. (D)
Thus, while the poem primarily adheres to the ABABCC rhyming pattern, it switches to an ABACCDD scheme in the final stanza, adding a subtle variation to the overall structure.
To determine the kind of rhyming pattern used in Longfellow's poem "The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls," we can examine the poem's structure and the pattern of end rhymes.
Let's break down the rhyme scheme stanza by stanza:
Stanza 1:
The tide rises, the tide falls, A
The twilight darkens, the curlew calls, A
Along the sea-sands damp and brown. B
The traveler hastens toward the town, B
And the tide rises, the tide falls. A
Stanza 2:
Darkness settles on roofs and walls, C
But the sea, the sea in the darkness calls; C
The little waves, with their soft, white hands, D
Efface the footprints in the sands, D
And the tide rises, the tide falls. A
Stanza 3:
The morning breaks; the steeds in their stalls E
Stamp and neigh, as the hostler calls; E
The day returns, but nevermore E
Returns the traveler to the shore, E
And the tide rises, the tide falls. A
From this analysis, we can conclude that the rhyme scheme of "The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls" is AABBA CCDDC EEFEE. The last line of each stanza consistently ends with "falls" (A), emphasizing the repetitive cycle of the tides. The lines within each stanza also follow a consistent pattern, with the second and fourth lines (B and D) rhyming together.
However, it is important to note that the poem occasionally deviates from this set pattern. In Stanza 2, there is a partial rhyme between "calls" (C) and "hands" (D). While the rhyme is not exact, it still creates a similar sound, maintaining some level of consistency within the stanza.
This deviation of rhyme in Stanza 2 serves to capture the sound of the sea calling out in the darkness, creating a melancholic atmosphere. It adds variation to the otherwise strict rhyme scheme, allowing Longfellow to convey a sense of unpredictability and change amidst the relentless rise and fall of the tides.
In summary, Longfellow primarily employs an AABBA CCDDC EEFEE rhyme scheme in "The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls," except for occasional instances where he deviates from it for intentional effect, adding nuance to the poem's narrative.