Couplets are a term used in poetic literature to describe two lines that have a rhythmic pattern. Couplets do not have to rhyme perfectly, but to give the poem a sort of rhythm to promote movement in a poem. This allows the reader to read the poem with a sense of movement similar to a song. There are many different types of couples. Two examples are closed and run-on couplets. Closed couplets signify that there is a grammatical end to the lines. This is shown when two lines that follow one another and rhyme so you know where the end is. A run-on couplet is more general and has to do with the entirety of the poem. The meaning of something that begins in one line, is carried down into the next lines without a grammatical end.

In Coleridge’s poem, Christabel, he uses couplets in order to enhance the readers experience when reading the poem. The couplets that he uses are inconsistent, which may be intentional. It is possible that Coleridge did it to throw a reader off because there is an certain feeling you should get while reading the poem. Also, the couplets provide a sense of rhyme and repetition which captivate. One of the things that Coleridge does is when each different character is talking, he uses a different meter and couplet pattern in order to distinguish them. This makes the poem more interesting and easier to follow. It also gives you insight to how the characters would be if they were real. Overall, with a variety of couplets, Coleridge makes the poem seem interesting and draws the reader in.

“Couplet.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/couplet.

“Couplet.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Mar. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Couplet.

“What Is Couplet? | Definition and Examples.” Reading Worksheets, Spelling, Grammar, Comprehension, Lesson Plans, www.k12reader.com/term/couplet/.