English litEraturE English litEraturE

Poetry:Poetry:LimerickLimerickss

Limerick ExampleLimerick Example

The limerick packs laughs anatomicalInto space that is quite economical

But the good ones I've seenSo seldom are clean

And the clean ones so seldom are comical

The LimerickThe LimerickA type of poetry with a strict rhyming

pattern in the form of five lines. The first two lines are always longer than the

second two and the fifth line is the same length as the first two.

AA

B

BA

Usually have a humorous intent.

01 Lines 1&2

02 Lines 3&4

03Line 5

Must rhyme with each

other (last word of each

line.)

Shorter than the first two

lines. Must rhyme with

each other (Not lines 1&2)

Longer than lines 3&4.

Same length as lines 1&2.

Must rhyme with lines 1&2

Limerick FormatLimerick Format

A limerick about the format of a A limerick about the format of a limerick!limerick!

Writing a Limerick's absurd.Line one and line five rhyme in word.

And just as you've reckoned,They rhyme with the second,

The fourth line must rhyme with the third.

Limerick Rhythm Limerick Rhythm

da DUM da da DUM da da DUMda DUM da da DUM da da DUM

da DUM da da DUMda DUM da da DUM

da DUM da da DUM da da DUM

The rhythm doesn’t have to match exactly, but it needs to be close enough so that it sounds the same when you read it. For example:

◦ There WAS a young FELLow named HALL.Who FELL in the SPRING in the FALL.Would have BEEN a sad THING,Had he DIED in the SPRING,But he DIDn’t, he DIED in the FALL.

History History

Limericks started in the early years of the 18th century England.

This style of poetry was made popular (popularized) in the 19th century by poet and writer, Edward Lear.

The Limerick became popular from Edward Lear’s first book:

A Book of Nonsense (1845)

Edward Lear Edward Lear (12 May 1812 – 29 January (12 May 1812 – 29 January 1888)1888)

English artist, illustrator, author and poet, known mostly for his literary nonsense in poetry (especially his limericks).

He is mostly known for the use of invented words in his poems.

The Owl and the Pussy-CatThe Owl and the Pussy-Cat

A Young LadyA Young Lady

There was a Young Lady whose chin.

Resembled the point of a pin.So she had it made sharp,

and purchased a harp,And played several tunes with her

chin.

There is a Young Lady whose noseContinually prospers and grows;

When it grew out of sight, she exclaimed in a fright,

“Oh! Farewell to the end of my nose!”

There was an Old Man on some rocks.Who shut his Wife up in a box.When she said, "Let me out," He exclaimed, "Without doubtYou will pass all your life in that box."

WRITING LIMERICKS: WRITING LIMERICKS: SOME SOME TIPSTIPS

There are two tips to help you write a limerick:

1. The first line usually ends with a person’s first name or the name of a place.

2. The last line is usually funny.

Tip 1Tip 1

The first line is usually the name of a person or place.

Pick the name of a place or person – like “New York” or “Stan” – and write a line like this:

There once was a girl from New YorkOR There once was a farmer named Stan

Then think of some rhyming words like:

“cork,” “fork,” “pork,” “stork,” or “man,” “can,” “ban,”

and find enough words to complete your limerick.

Tip 2Tip 2Once you’ve found some rhyming words,

start thinking about a funny ending for your poem.

Try to write lines 1, 2, and 5 first!

Then write lines 3 and 4 after.

For Example:For Example:I wrote this first: There once was a farmer named Stan. Who was an unusual man.

Da da DUM da daDa da DUM da da

Then I wrote the last line:For Stan only had the one hand.

I didn’t write this I just thought it in my mind.

There once was a farmer named Stan. Who was an unusual man.

He’d no money to show,No food did he grow,

For Stan only had the one hand.

There was a young boy from Crewe.Who found a bug in his stew.Said the waiter, “Don’t shout

And wave it aboutOr the rest will be wanting one too!”

There once was a boy named Joe.Who dropped a big brick on his toe.

He asked with a frown,“Will the swelling go down?”

And the doctor said, “Yes I think so.”

Task 1Task 1Try to write your own limerick.

Use the two tips to help you.

Choose a name or a place first. Think of rhyming words. Write lines 1, 2 & 5.Then write lines 3 & 4.

Anti Limericks Anti Limericks The limerick can be mocked (parodied).

These parodies are called ‘anti-limericks’.

There was a young man of JapanWhose limericks never would scan.When asked why this was,He replied "It's because I always try to fit as many syllables into the last line as ever I possibly can."

Comedian John Clarke has also parodied limericks:

There was an old man with a beard.A funny old man with a beard.He had a big beard,A great big old beard,That amusing old man with a beard.

Task 2Task 2Try to write an Anti Limerick!

This is easier because you can change the form and rhythm.