1. INESE REISA Kuldīgas 2.vidusskola
Limerick
INESE REISA
Kuldīgas 2.vidusskola

2. What is a limerick?
A limerick is a kind of a witty, humorous, or nonsense poem
In five-line or meter with a strict rhyme scheme (AABBA), which is sometimes obscene with humorous intent
The form can be found in England in the early years of the 18th century
It was popularized by Edward Lear in the 19th century.
A limerick is usually used in Englisch folk poetry

3. Rhyme sheme – A A B B A 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.

4. Author unknown The limerick packs laughs anatomical
Into space that is quite economical.
But the good ones I've seen
So seldom are clean -
And the clean ones so seldom are comical.
Author unknown

5. There once was a pauper* named_______
The rhythm is just as important in a limerick as the rhyme. Try completing this limerick.  
There once was a pauper* named_______
Who accidentally broke her _______.
She slipped on the ______.
Not once, but thrice
Take no pity* on her, __________.
*pauper – very poor person
*pity – to feel sorry

6. How to write a limerck? Line 1 Long Rhyme 1 Line 2 Line 3 Short
The last word of lines one, two, and five must rhyme with each other,
and the last word of lines three and four must rhyme with each other.
(And not with lines 1,2 and 3).
Line 1
Long
Rhyme 1
Line 2
Line 3
Short
Rhyme 2
Line 4
Line 5
A limerick is a short form of poetry known for its wit. To write a limerick follow these 3 simple steps.

7. Step 1
To write your own limerick you should choose a character and/or a location.
The typical use for the first line is to identify a location or a person.
At this point while you are picking your location or name of a person. You should already be thinking of words that rhyme with each other, which you can use to end your second line as well as the final line.
Because the limerick is meant to be funny, your rhymes can be silly.
Hint! Don't end your first line with a word that is impossible to rhyme with.

8. Step 2
Next, think of a plot which you can expand on in line two as in:
There was a Young Lady of Portugal, Whose ideas were excessively nautical*
* excessively nautical – very sensitive
At this point, you get the freedom of starting a new rhyme for the next two short lines of the limerick. Think of some action, problem,  for your character, and write about it in your two short lines. For example:
She climbed up a tree,
To examine the sea,

9. But declared she would never leave Portugal.
Step 3
Finally, finish with a ending to your limerick, which should make your reader laugh,  and which rhymes with the last word of lines one and two.
For example (as in Edward Lear's Limerick above):
But declared she would never leave Portugal.

10. Exsamples Author E.Lear
There was a Young Lady of Portugal, Whose ideas were excessively nautical She climbed up a tree, To examine the sea, But declared she would never leave Portugal!
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!'
Author E.Lear

11. Exsamples Author R.Southey
What are little girls made of? What are little girls made of?     Sugar and spice     And all that's nice, That's what little girls are made of.
What are little boys made of? What are little boys made of?     Frogs and snails     And puppy-dog tails, That's what little boys are made of.
Author R.Southey

12. Task 1
Go on the webpage above and try to make your own limerick in Limerick Factory!

13. For Fun
Wach the videos and relax a bit!

14. Your task
Practice the rhythm of limericks by clapping you hands or snapping your fingers.
Think of some funny names, places, or situations.
Using the a a b b a 5-line form, write an original limerick.
How would you illustrate the page if your poem was published in a book of limericks?
What types of art would you use?