Question

question 4 of 5
read these lines from \the monks tale.\
for hercules, a victor of sovereign power,
his labours sing his praise and lasting fame,
who in his time was human strength in flower.
he slew a lion and he skinned the same;
what is the rhyme scheme of the lines?
a. abcd
b. abba
c. abac
d. abab

Explanation:

• Label the first line as "a" (power).
• The second line doesn't rhyme with the first, so it's "b" (fame).
• The third line doesn't rhyme with the second, but rhymes with the first ("flower" rhymes with "power" in Middle English pronunciation), so it's "a".
• The fourth line rhymes with the second ("same" rhymes with "fame"), so it's "b".
• Thus, the rhyme scheme is abab.

Answer:

D. abab