Maureen Budka and Nicholas Miller 2nd Period Limerick Maureen Budka and Nicholas Miller 2nd Period

Background Information Though it is not known for sure, the limerick form is believed to have developed in France during the Middle Ages. Shakespeare used the limerick rhythm in parts of The Tempest, Othello, and King Lear. Soldiers returning home from the War of Spanish Succession brought the limerick form to Ireland in the early 1700s. In 1776, the limerick was published in Mother Goose’s Melodies. This caused the limerick form to be associated with children’s literature (Hickory Dickory Dock, Little Miss Muffet). Edward Lear contributed to the spread of limericks in England when he published his Book of Nonsense in 1845. All in all, Lear wrote 212 limericks. He tended to end both his first and last lines with the same word.

Structure Limericks are humorous, nonsensical five-line poems. They have a strict rhyme scheme of AABBA. The third and fourth lines are shorter (5-7 syllables) than the first, second, and fifth lines (7-10 syllables). Also, the first, second, and fifth lines have trimeter (three beat) measures, and the third and fourth lines have dimeter (two beat) measures.

Example There was an Old Man Who Supposed by Edward Lear There was an Old Man who supposed, (8 syllables, rhyme A, trimeter) That the street door was partially closed; (9 syllables, rhyme A, trimeter)     But some very large rats, (6 syllables, rhyme B, dimeter)     Ate his coats and his hats, (6 syllables, rhyme B, dimeter) While that futile old gentleman dozed. (9 syllables, rhyme A, trimeter)

Create Your Own! Separate into 3 groups. You will have 5 minutes as a group to write your own limerick. Be sure to follow all the rules (nonsensical, AABBA, syllable pattern). After the time is up, each group will share their poem. The group with the best limerick (as decided by Ms. Swank) will receive candy.