Question

Most of the rhymes in The Script's song are slant, meaning that the rhymes produce a similar sound but aren't perfect rhymes. First, write two pairs of slant rhymes from the "Breakeven" lyrics. Then, explain how this usage of slant rhyme is especially appropriate, given the theme of the song.

Answer 1

1. "Cause I got time while she got freedom,

"cause when a heart breaks no it don't breakeven"

2. "Oh you got his heart and my heart and none of the pain"

"You took your suitcase, I took the blame"

Explanation: A slant is a rhyme that has words with similar, but not exact sounds. The word "freedom" doesn't have the same sound as "breakeven"; Likewise, the words "pain" and "blame" don't. The usage of slant rhyme is appropriate in this song because of the wide choice of words the composer has with it, and since the singer is narrating his break-up story, slant rhymes give him more possibilities to tell more in detail what he feels.