LIMERICK

A five-line humorous poem The first, second, and fifth lines rhyming and the third and fourth lines rhyming It is one of the most popular poetic forms among children The fun of the limerick lies in its rollicking rhythm and its broad humour.

Imagine a skunk who proposes, To his true love, surrounded by roses. It may turn out just fine, When she falls for his line, But I wonder if flowers have noses?

(Sarah Fanny)

 Rhyme Pattern - The last words of the first, second, and fifth lines all rhyme with each other. Well call those rhyming words A, the words could be Peru, shoe, and true as illustrated in the poem

- And the last words of the third and fourth lines rhyme with each other. Well call those rhyming words B, the words could be night and fright in the example

 Rhythm Pattern - The first, second, and fifth lines all have this rhythm pattern: da DUM da da DUM da da DUM (notice there are 3 DUMS or beats).

- The third and fourth lines have a different rhythm pattern: da DUM da da DUM (notice there are 2 DUMS or beats).

There was an old man from Peru, (A) 1. da DUM da da DUM da da DUM (3 DUMS) who dreamed he was eating his shoe. (A) 2. da DUM da da DUM da da DUM (3 DUMS) He awoke in the night (B) 3. da DUM da da DUM (2 DUMS) with a terrible fright, (B) 4. da da DUM da da DUM (2 DUMS)

and found out that it was quite true. (A) 5. da DUM da da DUM da da DUM (3 DUMS)

What is a Limerick?
Humorous verse form of five-line poem

one couplet

one triplet

NOTE: If a couplet is a two-line rhymed poem, then a triplet would be a three-line rhymed poem.

Limerick
Limericks are meant to be funny. The last line of a good limerick contains the punch line. The rhyme pattern is a a b b a with lines 1, 2 and 5 containing 3 beats and rhyming, and lines 3 and 4 having two beats and rhyming.

The plot of a Limerick

1 line

Who and where What he did or what happened to him The result of the event The repetition of the 1st line

2 line

3-4 line

5 line

Form of Writing
Limericks are silly poems that have five lines with the rhyme scheme of a, a, b, b, a. All of the lines that have a will all have the same number of syllables. All of the lines that have b will all have the same number of syllables.

Example
Line 1: There was an old man with a cane
(state the situation)

Line 2: Who tried to do flips down the lane

(what happened)

Line 3: But his cane somehow broke

(what went wrong)

Line 4: And this sorry old bloke

(what went wrong)

Line 5: Ended up with a terrible pain

(result)

How to Write a Limerick

1. Make sure that it has the same AABBA rhyme pattern.

2. Make sure it also has the same 3 DUMS, 3 DUMS, 2 DUMS, 2 DUMS, 3 DUMS rhythm pattern. 3.Ideas for new limericks can come from almost anywhere. For example, your town, country, or any name.

Five simple steps to write a limerick:

1. Pick a boys or girls name that has one syllable (like Bill, Tim, Dick, Sue, or Jill). There once was a fellow (or young girl) named ____(pick an easy name with one syllable). Well pick Jill.

So the first line is:

There once was a young girl named Jill.

2. Now make a list of words that rhyme with the last word in the first line - in this case, Jill. Your list of rhyming words might include: hill, drill, pill, skill, bill, will, and ill. 3.Now write the second line. Heres an example:

Who feared the sight of a drill.

(the first and second lines contain 3 DUMS or beats.)

4. Now think of an interesting story. What could happen to someone scared of a drill? You might have an interesting story if Jill had to go to the dentist. So, the third and fourth lines can be:

She brushed every day. So, her dentist would say,

(2 DUMS or beats in each line.)

5. Now you need to go back to the first line and end the poem. Heres an example:

Your teeth are quite perfect, young Jill.