Limericks

1. Limericks • British poet Edward Lear (1812-1888) is most widely recognized as the father of the limerick form of poetry and is well known for his nonsense poems. • Limericks aren't Irish (Edward Lear was English) -- but there is a Limerick county in Ireland. • In this lesson, you will learn the form of the limerick poem, practice finding the rhythm and rhyme schemes in various limericks, and write your own limericks.

2. What is a limerick? • A limerick is a poem of five lines. • The first, second, and fifth lines have three rhythmic beats and rhyme with one another. • The third and fourth lines have two beats and rhyme with one another. • So, the rhyme scheme is AABBA • They are always light-hearted, humorous poems.

3. Limericks There once was a man with no hair. He gave everyone quite a scare. He got some Rogaine, Grew out a mane, And now he resembles a bear!

4. Limerick About a Bee I wish that my room had a floor, I don’t care so much for a door. But this walking around Without touching the ground Is getting to be quite a bore.

5. Another Limerick There once was a very small mouse Who lived in a very small house, The ocean’s spray Washed it away, All that was left was her blouse!

6. One more example: I sat next the Duchess at tea. It was just as I feared it would be: Her rumblings abdominal Were simply abominable And everyone thought they were me!

7. Limericks Quick Practice: There once was a pauper named Meg Who accidentally broke her______. She slipped on the _____. Not once, but thrice Take no pity on her, I _______. (Can you guess what words go in the blanks?)

8. Limericks Quick Practice: There once was a pauper named Meg Who accidentally broke her leg. She slipped on the ice. Not once, but thrice Take no pity on her, I beg.

9. Another practice limerick: There was a young lady named Sue, Who could not locate her left ______; On one foot she ______. She had to be _______. Her right foot became black and ____________. (Can you guess what words go in the blanks?)

10. Another practice limerick: There was a young lady named Sue, Who could not locate her left shoe; On one foot she hopped. She had to be stopped. Her right foot became black and blue.

11. You will create a limerick similar to this one… There once was a man from Beijing. All his life he hoped to be King. So he put on a crown, Which quickly fell down. That small silly man from Beijing.

12. Fill in the blanks and create your own limerick. There once was a _____ from _____. All the while she/he hoped ________. So she/he ____________________, And ________________________, That _________ from ___________.