Limericks

The Elements Of LimericksThere are five lines.

Note: Lines 3 and 4 are often printed on the same physical line.

Rhyming scheme (a a b b a):Lines 1, 2, and 5 rhymeLines 3 and 4 rhyme.

Number of syllables:Some of the examples in textbooks vary, but the number of syllables usually follow this pattern:Line 1 8 syllables.Line 2 8 syllables.Line 3 5 syllables.Line 4 5 syllables.Line 5 8 syllables.

Rhythm:Lines 1, 2, and 5 contain 3 accented syllables.Lines 3 and 4 contain 2 accented syllables.

Meter:There is no required metrical scheme, but each line usually has a masculine ending that is that each phrase is always stressed, or emphasized, on the last syllable.

Humor:Limericks thrive on the lack of harmonious agreement between parts. They contain a broad humor that most students over 8 to 10 years old appreciate. Junior High age students seem to really appreciate the limerick form. Younger students, preschool to eight, really enjoy the rhythm and rhyme of the limerick.

How to…

1) Across the top of a blank sheet of paper, each student writes 5-6 places s/he's lived or visited.... cities, provinces/states, countries, addresses, etc.

2) Choose the 2 places that are easiest to rhyme (this may take some experimenting and more than one try). Students can help each other "brainstorm" rhyming words which they then write in columns underneath the place names. This can be done using only the last syllable of the name. Example: Beijing: bring, fling, king, Ming, opening, ring, sing, sling, sting, thing ... 3) Using one or both of the templates, students write limericks by filling in the blanks with their own rhyming words. Use past tense.

Example

Example: 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 .

next one

• 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.• (anonymous)

Translation fun

There was a young lady of Riga,Who smiled as she rode on a tiger:They returned from the rideWith the lady inside,And the smile on the face of the tiger.

translation fun

Młoda dama imieniem Klarysadosiadała z uśmiechem tygrysa.W końcu, na prośbę kotka,dama wsiadła do środka,uśmiech dosiadł zaś gęby tygrysa.