What is a Couplet?

• A. Pair of consecutive lines that rhyme
• B. Three-line tercet
• C. A stanza with irregular meter
• D. A single line

Answer: (A)

A couplet is a pair of consecutive lines in a poem that rhyme, forming a complete two-line unit. These two lines are often written in the same meter, giving the couplet a balanced, punchy rhythm. Because the endings rhyme, the couplet tends to feel like a little complete thought or emphasis, and it can stand alone or appear within a longer poem.

For example:

Morning breaks with golden light,

Stars fade away before the night.

That simple two-line pairing shows how the rhyme ties the lines together and creates a compact, satisfying moment in verse. This is distinct from a three-line stanza (tercet), a stanza with irregular meter, or a single line.