LIMERICK

A limerick represents the lighter side of literature.
It represents the fun part as a joke represents the fun in our life.
Like a joke, it can be sad or emotional whilst still giving a smile.

History suspect that the origin of the limerick lies with a group of Irish soldiers (from a town called Limerick), that were returning from a battle in France in 1700. In literature Edward Lear is considered the father of the Limerick.

A limerick is a kind of witty, humorous nonsense poem with a strict rhythm scheme.

It is a five line poem containing a three lines rhymed triplet and a two lines rhymed couplet.

The pattern of the rhymes is a-a-b-b-a, with lines 1, 2, and 5 containing 3 beats and rhyming.

Lines 3 and 4 having 2 beats and rhyming. The cadans of the beats are as important as the rhyming.

The pun of the poem is mostly in line five

Example: by C Alan Beber

The limerick is fugitive and mean

You must keep her in close quarantine

For she sneaks to the slums

And promptly becomes

Disorderly, drunk and obscene