Poetry Lesson Limericks
There was an Old Man with a beard,
Who said, 'It is just as I feared!
Two Owls and a Hen
Four Larks and a Wren,
Have all built their nests in my beard!'
Edward Lear
Who said, 'It is just as I feared!
Two Owls and a Hen
Four Larks and a Wren,
Have all built their nests in my beard!'
Edward Lear
Edward Lear was a 19th Century English author, artist, and illustrator. He is primarily know for his limericks the form of poetry that he made popular. All his writings were fun, whimsical, and nonsensical.
Limericks are mean to be fun, so I hope you have fun with this unit.
Limericks are mean to be fun, so I hope you have fun with this unit.
What is a limerick?
A limerick is a short and fun five-line poem with a distinctive rhythm. The first, second and fifth lines are longer than the third and fourth lines. The rhyming pattern is AABBA. The longer A lines rhyme with each other and the shorter B lines rhyme with each other.
- Line 1: 7-10 syllables A
- Line 2: 7-10 syllables A
- Line 3: 5-7 syllables B
- Line 4: 5-7 syllables B
- Line 5: 7-10 syllables A
Examples
A flea and a fly in a flue
Were caught, so what could they do? Said the fly, “Let us flee” “Let us fly,” said the flea, So they flew through a flaw in the flue. -Anonymous Limerick Stuffer
There once was a poet named Dan, Whose poetry just would not scan. When pointed out why, He said with a sigh, "I know, because I try to fit every last syllable on the last line that I can." Copyright; Janelle Barker |
Einstein's Revelation
Einstein woke up with a blink, said "Eureka, I've got it!, I think. If it's more perspiration and less inspiration no wonder my limericks stink." Copyright; Endaphia A funny old bird is a pelican.
His beak can hold more than his belican. Food for a week He can hold in his beak, But I don't know how the "hekitcan". |
The assignment:
Write a limerick
On your mark:
You will soon hear the distinctive beat pattern of all limericks. The rhythm is just as important as rhyme in a limerick. Practice by completing this limerick.
There once was a pauper named Meg,
Who accidentally broke her ________
She slipped on the ________
Not just once, but thrice
Take no pity on her, I _________
Get set:
Start your own limerick rhyme! If you are stuck for ideas, try one of these lines to start:
There once was a man who wore pink…
Two people flew in from New York…
I knew a young lad named Ted. . .
A clown who had a big nose…
I once saw a horse with a hat…
There once was a boy who ate cake…
I eat my peas smothered in honey…
GO! Write a limerick!
REMEMBER
You will soon hear the distinctive beat pattern of all limericks. The rhythm is just as important as rhyme in a limerick. Practice by completing this limerick.
There once was a pauper named Meg,
Who accidentally broke her ________
She slipped on the ________
Not just once, but thrice
Take no pity on her, I _________
Get set:
Start your own limerick rhyme! If you are stuck for ideas, try one of these lines to start:
There once was a man who wore pink…
Two people flew in from New York…
I knew a young lad named Ted. . .
A clown who had a big nose…
I once saw a horse with a hat…
There once was a boy who ate cake…
I eat my peas smothered in honey…
GO! Write a limerick!
REMEMBER
- Line 1: 7-10 syllables A
- Line 2: 7-10 syllables A
- Line 3: 5-7 syllables B
- Line 4: 5-7 syllables B
- Line 5: 7-10 syllables A
- Limericks are meant to be funny.
- They often contain hyperbole, onomatopoeia, idioms, puns, and other figurative devices.
- The last line of a good limerick contains the PUNCH LINE or "heart of the joke."
- As you work with limericks, remember to have pun, I mean FUN!
- When you are finished read it out loud and clap (snap) the rhythm.