Poetic Forms Poetic Forms    

Lesson 9: Limerick: There was an Old Man with a Beard

by Edward Lear

Directions

Study the poem for one week.

Over the week:

• Read the poem each day.
• Review the synopsis.
• Read about the poetic form.
• Complete the enrichment activities.

Synopsis

The next four weeks introduce four limericks. Limericks are humorous, sometimes rude, poems with five lines. The first, second, and fifth lines rhyme, containing 7-10 syllables each. The third and fourth lines rhyme and are shorter, containing 5-7 syllables. In the limerick "There was an Old Man with a Beard," Edward Lear describes something surprising in an old man's long beard.

Concepts

Poems often adhere to specific poetic forms, defined as 'poems following distinct sets of rules.'

The nine poetic forms we'll study include the:

1. Sijo: A lyrical Korean poetic form of three long lines.
2. Haiku: A Japanese poem of three lines and a total of seventeen syllables.
3. Limerick: A humorous poem of five lines and the rhyming scheme AABBA, typically having syllables of 9–9–6–6–9.
4. Sonnet
5. Epitaph
6. Acrostic
7. Visual
8. Ode
9. Blank Verse

Traditional limericks follow the listed rules:

1. Consist of five (5) lines
2. The first, second, and fifth lines rhyme, containing 7-10 syllables
3. The third and fourth lines rhyme, containing 5-7 syllables
4. Typically use humor or rudeness to evoke a reaction from the reader
5. Follow the AABBA rhyme scheme.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Recite the Poem Title, Poet Name, and Poem

• Each day this week, recite aloud the title of the poem, the name of the poet, and the poem.

Activity 2: Study the Poem Picture

Study the poem picture and describe how it relates to the poem.

Activity 3: Narrate the Poem

• After reading the poem, narrate the poem events aloud using your own words.

Activity 4: Map the Poem

• The limerick originated in early 18th century England.
• Study the map to find England, now a part of the United Kingdom. (England forms the southern part of the larger island of the United Kingdom).

Activity 5: Complete Book Activities   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 12 of 'Elementary Poetry 6: Poetic Forms.'

References

'Limerick.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.