What is an AABBA pattern? In the realm of poetry and literature, the AABBA pattern is a common literary device that creates a rhythmic and musical quality in the text. It is a type of verse structure that follows a specific pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables, which is particularly popular in the sonnet form. Understanding the AABBA pattern can enhance one’s appreciation for the beauty and intricacy of poetic works.
The AABBA pattern is characterized by a sequence of eight lines, where the first, second, and fourth lines rhyme, and the third and fifth lines also rhyme. This creates a symmetrical structure that can be visually represented as follows:
AABBA
This pattern is often used in sonnets, which are 14-line poems that follow a strict rhyme scheme. The AABBA pattern is just one of the many rhyme schemes that can be employed in a sonnet, with other common schemes including ABABABAB and CDCCDCC.
The use of the AABBA pattern can evoke a sense of balance and harmony in the poem. The repetition of the A and B sounds in the first and second lines, as well as the third and fourth lines, creates a musicality that can be both soothing and captivating. This pattern also allows poets to emphasize certain themes or ideas by repeating them in the first and fourth lines, which can then be contrasted or expanded upon in the second and third lines.
One of the most famous examples of the AABBA pattern can be found in Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 18,” which reads:
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer’s lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimmed;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature’s changing course untrimmed;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wanderest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
In this sonnet, the AABBA pattern is used to create a sense of continuity and immortality, as the beauty of the subject is compared to the fleeting nature of summer. The repetition of the A and B sounds in the first and second lines, as well as the third and fourth lines, reinforces the idea that the subject’s beauty is timeless and unchanging.
In conclusion, the AABBA pattern is a poetic device that adds musicality and rhythm to literary works. By understanding its structure and application, readers can appreciate the intricacies of poetry and the creative minds behind it. Whether in sonnets or other forms of verse, the AABBA pattern is a testament to the power of language and the enduring beauty of poetry.
