Question

what is the function of rhyme and rhythm in the poem the cremation of sam mcgee

Answer 1

Rhyme and rhythm in the poem of Robert W Service "The cremation of Sam McGee was to express the story of this prospector from Plumtree Tennessee who had never been warm since he left there to come to the Yukon goldrush of 1898. Rhyme and rhythm were used to create an amusing story of how the only time Sam McGee was warm was when he was cremated in an old sternwheeler "on the marge of Lake Laberge" and he said to close the door to keep the warmth in and the freezing cold out. The poem mostly rhymes with every other line, and the rhythm is such that it makes a lively tale of life in the Klondike gold rush of the Yukon.

Answer 2

Rhyme and rhythm are extremely important in this poem. In terms of rhyme, the poem employs both internal and end rhyme. Internal rhyme occurs within words in a particular line of verse. End rhyme is the one that appears at the end of a line. The end rhyme of the poem follows the pattern AABB.

In terms of rhythm, the poem has seven stressed syllables per line. Both rhyme and rhythm serve a similar purpose. They add an element of consistency that makes the poem memorable. Moreover, the pattern is appealing and therefore enjoyable for the reader to read. Both elements make the story more vivid and the details more memorable.