Limericks
Introduction Printable Worksheets Example
Introduction:
A limerick is a silly poem with five lines. They are often funny or nonsensical. Limericks were made famous by Edward Lear, a famous author who wrote the "Book of Nonsense" in the 1800's. This was an entire book of silly limericks.
How to write a limerick:
The first, second and fifth lines rhyme with each other and
have the same number of syllables (typically 8 or 9).
The
third and fourth lines rhyme with each other and have the same
number of syllables (typically 5 or 6)
Limericks often
start with the line "There once was a..." or "There was a..."
Example of an 8,8,5,5,8 syllable limerick:
STAR
by Kaitlyn Guenther
There once was a wonderful star
Who thought she would go very far
Until she fell down
And
looked like a clown
She knew she would never go far.
Printable Worksheets:
- Worksheet 1: Information about limericks and space to write your own limerick.
Examples:
Limericks by Edward Lear:
- There was a Young Lady of Ryde
- There was a Young Lady whose Bonnet
- There was an Old Man in a Boat
- There was an Old Man in a Tree
- There was an Old Man of Kilkenny
- There was an Old Man of Marseilles
- There was an Old Man of Quebec
- There was an Old Man who Supposed
- There was an Old Man with a Beard
- There was an Old Man with a Flute
Limericks by Kaitlyn Guenther
Kaitlyn was 12 or 13 when she wrote these, so the syllables might be a bit off, but they're close.
Limericks by Leanne Guenther
- Limerick: Daddy
- Limerick: St. Patrick's Day 1 St. Patrick's Day 2 St. Patrick's Day 3
- Limerick: Turkey