Limerick
Limericks are usually silly poems that are fun to say. Sometimes, they can even be a riddle. They have a very specific rhyme and rhythm pattern and will always consist of five lines.
Line 1: A
This part is extremely tricky! Read this famous limerick out loud and see if you can tell the natural rhythm that you take when you read it. The bold words are the words that you would emphasize as you are speaking it out loud.
There was an old man from Peru As you can tell, the first, second and fifth lines have a rhythm that sounds like this: da DUM da da DUM da da DUM (three DUMs per line! Try saying the first line of the limerick and then say the "da DUM da da DUM da da DUM." They have the same rhythm!) The third and fourth lines are different: da DUM da da DUM (there's only two DUMs per line). | Watch this video on how to write limericks. The song is a limerick too! What are some examples or rhyming that you notice? Which lines does he say have to rhyme? Listen carefully because he sings fast! |