What is the difference between rhyme and rhythm?

Rhyme -- sounds (and usually spellings) that are the same:

hop
bop

rain
plain

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Rhythm -- arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry that creates a pattern (and often a "beat")

The RAIN in SPAIN falls MAINly in the PLAIN

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhyme

and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meter_(poetry)

Rhyme and rhythm are both important concepts in poetry and music, but they have distinct meanings and serve different purposes.

Rhyme refers to the similarity of sounds at the end of two or more words. It is often used to create a sense of harmony, musicality, or repetition in poetry. Rhymes can be categorized into different types:

1. End Rhyme: This occurs when the sounds at the end of two or more lines of poetry match, such as "moon" and "spoon."

2. Internal Rhyme: This happens when words within the same line of poetry rhyme, such as "I hear a tapping, gently rapping."

3. Slant Rhyme: Also known as half rhyme or near rhyme, this occurs when the sounds of words are similar but not identical, such as "hand" and "land."

Rhythm, on the other hand, refers to the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry or music. It is the quality that gives poetry and music their beat or flow. Rhythm is usually determined by the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables in combination with the placement of pauses.

The best way to understand the difference between rhyme and rhythm is to analyze a piece of poetry or song lyrics. Identify the end rhymes, internal rhymes, or slant rhymes present in the text. Then, observe the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables to determine the rhythm. By examining the specific words and their arrangements, you can gain a better understanding of how rhyme and rhythm function in a particular piece of writing.