Rhyme is one of the most persistent, mysterious, and salient features of poetry, and has been part of English poetry for hundreds of years. It has been used in many different ways for many different, even contradictory effects. In this class we will read a wide selection of poetry both old and new, and discover both how rhyme works and why it works. We will also read excerpts from theoretical texts about rhyme to help us think through rhyme’s power and paradoxical attributes. As students’ suggestions for rhymed poems to consider are most welcome, we will also look at examples of rhyme outside of poetry.