Read these lines from "The Monk's Tale.

"For Hercules, a victor of sovereign power,

His labours sing his praise and lasting fame,

Who in his time was human strength in flower.

He slew a lion and he skinned the same; "

What is the rhyme scheme of the lines?

0

O A. abab

O

B. abcd

O

c. abac

O

D. abba

Answer: A. abab

Explanation:

If we want to identify the rhyme scheme, we need to focus on the ending sound in each line. The lines that have the same (or similar) ending sounds will be marked with the same letter. Whenever a line that ends with a new sound is introduced, it will have a new letter. In this particular example, the first and the third line end with the same sound (power and flower), and are marked with the letter 'a'. So do the second and fourth lines (fame and same), and they are marked with 'b'.