RHYTHM

Rhythm is easy to feel but quite hard to define, so let’s start thinking about it.

ACTIVITY 11. a) List the things in the world that have a rhythm. E.g. a heart beat

b) What is it that they have in common?

WRITE THIS DEFINITION – RHYTHM – THE REGULAR PATTERN OF BEATS IN A POEM

You may notice that things with rhythm seem to have two types of sound which repeat to make a pattern. When we speak we hear them as unstressed syllables and stressed syllables.

Unstressed syllables usually sound quieter or softer than stressed ones, which sound louder or harder.

Task – 1. Sing this famous nursery rhyme as a class. 

Ring a ring a roses A pocket full of posies A tissue, a tissue We all fall down

1. Now try clapping in time2. Why do you think children dance and change

direction when they sing it?

ANNOTATING RHYTHM

To work out the rhythm of a poem you can ANNOTATE or note down where the stressed or unstressed syllables occur. Above each stressed syllable put /Above each unstressed syllable put .

For example . / . / . / . / . / If music be the food of love play on