Lecture 1 General problems of stylistics Plan: Stylistics as a branch of linguistics. The objectives of Stylistics

Incomplete rhymes
can be vowel and consonant rhymes. 
 
a.
If the vowels of the syllables in corresponding words are identical, but the 
consonants may be different, the rhyme is called 
incomplete vowel rhyme
. Eg. 
worth – forth, flesh – fresh . 
“Twinkle, twinkle little star 
How I wonder what you are.
”(Jane Taylor)
 
b.
If the consonants of the syllables in corresponding words are identical, but the 
vowels show disparity, the rhyme is called 
incomplete consonant rhyme.
Eg.
 
worth – forth, treble – trouble
. 
3.
Eye Rhymes
, also called sight or spelling rhymes, refer to words having the 
same spelling but different sounds. In such case, the final syllables have the same 
spellings but are pronounce differently. E.g. 
cough – bough, love – move. 
for the readers as the repetitive patterns renders musicality and rhythm to 
itAccording to the way the rhymes are arranged within the stanza, certain models 
have crystalized. 
1.
 
Couplets
– when the last words of two successive lines are rhymed. This is 
commonly marked – aa. 
 
2.
 
Triple
rhymes –aaa.
 
3.
 
Cross 
rhymes – abab.
 
4.
 
Framing
or ring rhymes – abba.
 
5.
 
Internal 
rhyme where the rhyming words are placed not at the ends of the lines 
but within the line. 
 
“I bring fresh showers for the thirsting flowers.”
(Percy Bysshe Shelley) 
 
Functions of rhyme. Rhymes serve distinct functions in the art of writing 
poetry. They give poetry a typical symmetry that differentiates poetry from prose 
and make recital of poetry a pleasurable experience. 
Rhythm.
The word rhythm is derived from Greek word 
rhythmos
which 
means ‘measured motion’. Rhythm is a stylistic device which demonstrates the long 

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and short patterns through stressed and unstressed syllables particularly in verse 
form.
The regular and rhythmic arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables found 
in poetry is called metre. The basic unit of metre is the foot, which consists of one 
stressed syllable and one or more unstressed syllables. The most common feet are: 
1.
Iamb (adj.: iambic) – one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable: (ӑ 
‖ w`ay); 
2.
Trochee (adj.: trochaic) – one stressed syllable followed by one unstressed 
syllable: (f`a ‖ thӗr); 
3.
Anapest (adj.: anapestic) – two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed 
syllable: (iň ‖ tɦe l`ight); 
4.
Dactyl (adj.: dactylic) – one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed 
syllable: (`o ‖ vӗr ‖ thӗ); 
5.
Monosyllable (adj.: monosyllabic) – one stressed syllable: sk`y; 
6.
Spondee (adj.: spondaic) – two stressed syllables: r`ain ‖ b`ow.
Function of rhythm. Rhythm in writing acts as beat does in music. The use of 
rhythm in poetry arises from the need that some words are to be produced more 
strongly than others. They might be stressed for longer period of time. Hence, the 
repeated use of rhythmical patterns of such accent produces rhythmical effect which 
sounds pleasant to the mind as well as to the soul. In speech, rhythm is used 
unconsciously to create identifiable patterns. Moreover, rhythm captivates the 
audience and readers alike by giving musical effect to a speech or a literary piece.