Limericks
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limericks
LIMERICK: a humorous five-line
poem with a rhyme scheme aabba. A
limerick is a silly poem, they are often
funny or nonsensical.
“There once was a man from Nantucket.”
If you’ve heard a variation of a five-line poem that begins with that line,
then you’re familiar with a limerick. Limericks are short, rhythmic poems.
They’re almost always silly and fun to read aloud!
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limericks
LIMERICK: a humorous five-line
poem with a rhyme scheme aabba. A
limerick is a silly poem, they are often
funny or nonsensical.
✖
✖
✖
Limericks have rhythm and Rhyme
✖
The third and fourth lines must rhyme and have 5 - 7
syllables.
Limericks consist of five lines.
The first line, second line, and fifth lines end in
rhyming words and have 7 - 10 syllables
Lines 1, 2 and 5: da dum da da dum da da dum.
Line 3 and 4: da dum da da dum.
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There was an Old Man with a Flute
by Edward Lear
Rhyme
Syllables
a.. There was an Old Man with a flute, ……..8
a.. A serpent ran into his boot; …………………8
b…… But he played day and night, …………….7
b…… Till the serpent took flight,……………….7
a.. And avoided that man with a flute. ………9
HISTORY SNAPSHOT
There Was An Old Man With A Beard
By Edward Lear
:
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The limerick form was popularised by
Edward Lear in his first A Book of
Nonsense (1846). Lear wrote 212
limericks, mostly considered nonsense
literature.
Rhyme
Syllables
a.. There was an Old Man with a beard ……..8
a.. Who said, “It is just as I feared!” …..……6
b…… Two Owls and a Hen …………….………….5
b…… Four Larks and a Wren, ……..…………….5
a.. Have all built their nests in my beard! …8
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A Wonderful Bird Is The Pelican
By Dixon Lanier Merritt
Rhyme
Syllables
a.. A wonderful bird is the pelican, ……..…….10
a.. His bill holds more than his belican. …..…9
b…… He can take in his beak ……………………….6
b…… Enough food for a week,……..…………...….6
a.. But I’m damned if I see how the helican…11
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A boy named Dan
By unknown
Rhyme
Syllables
a.. There once was a boy named Dan,….7
a.. who wanted to fry in a pan. ………..…8
He tried and he tried, …………………...5
b……
and eventually died, ……..……………...6
b……
a.. that weird little boy named Dan. ……7
Your turn!
Prompts: here are some first
lines to get you started
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TIPS:
 Tell a story
 Start with your subject
 Make it absurd
 End with a twist
 Don’t stray from the structure
 Read your limerick out loud
He was an unusual boy
There once was a very old dog
A beautiful girl in my town
There was a young woman whose head
Two poets who couldn't agree
Rhyme
Syllables
a.. _____________________ ……7 – 10
a.. _____________________ ……7 - 10
b…… ______________ …………………….5 - 7
b…… ______________ …………………….5 - 7
a.. _____________________ ……7 - 10
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limericks
LIMERICK: a humorous five-line
poem with a rhyme scheme aabba. A
limerick is a silly poem, they are often
funny or nonsensical.
✖
✖
✖
Limericks have rhythm and Rhyme
✖
The third and fourth lines must rhyme and have 5 - 7
syllables.
Limericks consist of five lines.
The first line, second line, and fifth lines end in
rhyming words and have 7 - 10 syllables
Lines 1, 2 and 5: da dum da da dum da da dum.
Line 3 and 4: da dum da da dum.
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ACTIVITY / HOMEWORK:
Write your own limerick about yourself and
post it to your blog.
Hint: Start with
“There once was a boy/girl named _____”