The limerick is, and was originally, an indecent verse-form. The 'clean' sort of limerick is an obvious palliation, its content insipid, its rhyming artificiality ingenious, its whole pervaded with a frustrated nonsense that vents itself typically in explosive and aggressive violence.
Gershon Legman, The Limerick
Whether you have an interest in poetry or it is something that was forced upon you as part of your Leaving Certificate or university education, you are likely looking to explore this medium of literature to improve your grades in English. By learning more about the different facets of poetry and the various techniques used to enhance their storytelling capacity, you will sharpen your analytical eye and improve the quality of your answers.
Limericks Explained
Here, we will introduce one of the most accessible forms of poetry that beginners and seasoned poets alike can enjoy. Limericks differ from many of the prescribed pieces of literature in the English syllabus, as they possess witty and humorous qualities that give them their unique, entertaining quality.
We will discuss the features that make limericks so effective to help you understand this form of poetry and give you the tools you need to enhance your answers in the poetry section of the Leaving Cert English exam. We will also help you build on your knowledge of best practice writing techniques so that you can take on the challenge of crafting your own pieces and further appreciate these compositions.
Throughout your years of schooling, you will likely engage in numerous classroom discussions where you select an unseen piece of poetry. Many of these analytical sessions are aimed at developing your ability to critically analyse poems, their underlying meanings and the various techniques that facilitate this storytelling.
From your time in the classroom, your Leaving Cert English teacher will likely spend the majority of your time covering the work of prescribed poets and their unique approaches to imagery and intricate metaphors. However, the limerick stands out as a whimsical form of poetry with a refreshing mix of distinctive qualities that set it apart from the rest.
A limerick is a short-form poem that is packed with humour and is characterised by a series of rules. The set of rules for a limerick is simple:
If you aren't drawn to the idea of having to abide by so many rules in your writing, then you might be better suited to free verse poetry as a means of expressing yourself.
The form, although confined to just five lines in length, allows the poem to possess an auditory quality through its rhyme scheme and rhythm. Despite their short length, limericks still pack a punch when it comes to their capacity for storytelling, always having an amusing story to direct and enjoy.
Given that limerick poets are somewhat limited by the length of their work, they tend to captivate an audience from the outset by starting the poems with a phrase such as "There was a..." followed by an individual or location, establishing the scene from the outset.
There was an Old Person of Dean,
Who dined on one pea and one bean;
For he said, “More than that would make me too fat,”
That cautious Old Person of Dean.
It’s extremely engaging, as the story unfolds line by line at a pace that far exceeds other forms of writing, and always concludes with a witty punchline or unexpected twist that leaves you with a grin on your face.
Mastering the Rhyme: The Secret Behind Limerick Sound and Flow
You’re probably wondering how such a short extract can engage readers in the same way as longer-form poems. While just as engaging, a limerick relies heavily on its auditory qualities to engage readers. The first, second and fifth lines of a limerick will rhyme with each other while the third and fourth lines rhyme differently.
If you haven’t looked at rhyme just yet in your English class, this structure can be better described as an AABBA rhyme pattern. One way that it engages readers and sounds better when read aloud is that the first, second and fifth lines are also a little longer, typically containing 7-10 syllables, whereas the third and fourth lines are a bit shorter at around 5-7 syllables.
The rhyme scheme of a limerick is known as “AABBA.” This means that the final words in lines 1, 2, and 5 rhyme. Those are the “A’s” in the rhyme scheme. The “B’s” are the last words of lines 3 and 4. Let’s look at this example:
There was a young fellow named Hall
Who fell in the spring in the fall.
‘Twould have been a sad thing
Had he died in the spring,
But he didn’t—he died in the fall.
— Anonymous
A limerick follows an AABBA rhyme pattern. That means lines 1, 2, and 5 rhyme with each other, while lines 3 and 4 rhyme separately. This structure gives the poem its signature bounce and musical quality.
Because of this flexibility, there are different ways to write poetry, like limericks; the first line might look something like this: There was once an old man from London. Or it might go like this: There was an old man from London. Then the third line could go like so: He rode on a whale, or it might work like this: And he rode on a whale.
Limerick Examples: How It’s Done
While learning about the fundamentals that underpin effective limericks is an essential first step, you will want to see these techniques in practice. To introduce you to some best practice storytelling techniques employed in limericks, we'll examine examples that are both well-written and clever. Here are some more examples of limericks that might sound familiar:
There once was a man from Peru
Who had a lot of growing up to do,
He’d ring a doorbell,
then run like hell,
Until the owner shot him with a .22.
- Anonymous
Although he didn’t invent limericks, Edward Lear made them famous in the 1800s through his illustrated books of nonsense poetry. He wrote 212 limericks, many of which featured eccentric characters and strange situations.
The authors of these two remained anonymous, but maybe you’ll recognise these ones by Edward Lear:
There was a Young Lady whose chin
Resembled the point of a pin:
So she had it made sharp,
And purchased a harp,
And played several tunes with her chin.
- Edward Lear
There was a young lady of Lucca
Whose lovers completely forsook her;
She ran up a tree
And said "Fiddle-de-dee!"
Which embarrassed the people of Lucca.
- Edward Lear
Or this more modern one:
Few thought he was even a starter;
There were many who thought themselves smarter,
But he ended a PM
CH and OM
An earl and a Knight of the Garter.
- Clement Attlee
Notice that when you read these epic poems, they all have similar sounds and rhythms. You’ll also notice that they all have that light-hearted, humorous feel that makes limericks so fun!
nonsense-filled Limericks that helped define the genre.
How to Write a Limerick from Scratch
One of the best ways to understand poetry is to practice writing poems yourself. Not only will it enhance your creative writing skill that transfers across to many other subjects, but it will also sharpen your eye for detail when analysing unseen pieces of poetry
When building a house, you need to start by setting the foundation and then build upwards from there. The same approach is needed with Limericks, where you’ll need to familiarise yourself with the structure and cadence of this style.
The more limericks you write, the more you’ll begin to notice the process becoming much easier, and you’ll likely be second-guessing yourself a lot less. If you fancy yourself as a music buff, then you might find your calling when studying some Ballard poems!
Limericks are designed to be heard. Reading your poem out loud helps you check its rhythm and syllable count and makes it easier to spot if the punchline lands nicely.
Okay, so when it comes to putting pen to paper, you can start by selecting a person, place or object to centre your poem around. You can let your imagination run wild here, or if you happen to lack inspiration, this could even be your pet, a toy or a family member.
Remember, limericks typically begin with phrases like "There was...". There lived a..." followed by the main character, so there’s no need to reinvent the wheel to write a captivating story. One aspect that may take some getting used to is adding a subject that lends itself well to humour or cleverness, as evoking laughter and amusement is somewhat unique to these short poems.
Once you get past this hurdle, you can shift your focus towards selecting words that share endings to establish the rhyme pattern. You could spend hours staring at a blank page, overcomplicating part of the process, trying to find the perfect word, but make sure to keep it simple at the beginning.
These skills will come with time, so to begin, find words that are easy to rhyme. If your verse revolves around a bus, consider using words that end in " us" for rhyming possibilities.
You can take something from all forms of poetry, each of which will present you with a new understanding that will help you with your analysis of unseen pieces. Give slam poetry a try once you have limericks nailed down, and continue your learning!
Techniques to Level Up Your Limericks
Once you feel like you are starting to get the hang of writing limericks and have been successful in making some friends or family chuckle with your writing, you can then consider some next steps to solidify your skills further. You now have the base of a house; you just need to give it a roof, some windows and a door. This can be achieved with a number of more advanced techniques that will help you write the perfect limerick.
Since they thrive on being quirky and slightly absurd, don't shy away from letting your creativity take flight. Season your poems by incorporating some wordplay, puns or unexpected turns to infuse humour into your work. One actionable step that can help you with this is to keep a notepad on hand and jot down any ideas that come to mind throughout the day, along with any situations that make you laugh. You can think about how you can weave it into a limerick at a later stage!
Since you only have five lines to engage your reader, you can use exaggeration and irony to contribute to the humour of your poem. You want your limerick to be accessible and enjoyable for all, so try to avoid using fancy words and keep it simple, focusing on the storytelling and wit.
Once you have put the pen down and you’re happy with your creation, make sure to spend some time reciting it aloud to ensure it maintains that rhythm that makes these poems so memorable. Don't stress yourself out if your initial try isn't flawless – crafting limericks requires practice, so keep at it and try to enjoy the process!
You can always draw inspiration from any short stories or different kinds of Sonnets that capture your interest, moulding them into your own creation!
Start Writing Your Own Limericks Today
From looking at the unique creative process that goes into writing a limerick, hopefully, you have a newfound appreciation for the art and have an added sense of confidence in your ability to engage with poetry at school.
You can see why Limericks have carved out a special place in the world of poetry, offering a delightful blend of wit, humour, and rhythm. Many of the poems you cover in the subject tackle perturbed themes and conjure heavy imagery, so this light-hearted medium is a refreshing and uplifting avenue to explore. Writing your own five-line verses can be a fun way to flex your creative muscles and bring a smile to others' faces.
By following the simple structure and embracing the playful spirit of these poems, you can craft your own memorable verses and begin to recognise the various techniques across other poems that feature on the Leaving Cert English syllabus.
So why not give it a go? You might discover a hidden talent for turning everyday observations into your own stories and jump up a few grades in the subject.
One of the great things about poetry is that there are lots of styles of poetry after trying Limerick poems. Give a new style a try, whether it's your own limericks or Haiku poems from Japan, which have their own traditional form.
Take Your Poetry Further with a Superprof Tutor
If you want to explore limericks further or even venture beyond five-line poems, you could consider studying with a private Superprof tutor. Leaving Cert students can sharpen their creative writing with a private tutor, but anyone can explore poetry more if they'd like. A one-on-one tutor can provide tailored and personalised lessons so that you'll learn exactly what you want using the approaches that are most effective for you.
Once you’ve mastered limericks, try branching out into other styles of poetry. Haikus focus on nature and brevity, sonnets play with structure and emotion, and free verse lets your creativity run wild.
On Superprof, you can search for English and poetry tutors that share your interests. Whether you want to do limericks, haikus, sonnets, or even slam poetry, you can learn more about them, analyse poetry, and start writing your own. There are tutors for all levels, so don't worry about being new to poetry itself.
There are poetry tutors available throughout Ireland and worldwide. Even if you can't find any local tutors, you can study poetry online with them, with online tutors often charging less than their face-to-face counterparts since they travel less and can schedule more sessions each week.
The best thing is that most tutors on Superprof offer the first lesson for free, which means you can try out different tutors before choosing the one that works for you, your budget, your schedule, and your learning style. Just search for "poetry" on the Superprof site today!
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