Origin of the Limericks
How old are Limericks and where did the limerick originate.
Why are there so many Irish Limericks? What is the
connection with Ireland? Limericks originated as far
back as the 14th century and were extremely popular
in both England and Ireland. A limerick is a poem
and form of poetry which rhymes. They are simple and
short and easy for even kids and children to write
or compose.
English and
Irish Limericks
The term Limerick originates in Ireland - its name
is taken from the Irish County of Limerick in
Ireland. The Irish are well known for their love of
poems and poetry and the Irish Bards played an
important part in Irish history. Stories of people
and valiant deeds were repeated to hundreds of
people using poems and poetry which were passed on
from one Irish Bard to the next by word of mouth.
The tradition and origins of different types of
poems and poetry therefore date back to the time
when the majority of people were unable to read or
write. The simplicity of the limerick made
them easy to write and easy to remember which has
led to their popularity in both the English and
Irish culture. Limericks were often composed in
taverns, bars and pubs in both England and Ireland -
which explains why some limericks are rude, dirty or
bawdy in nature! The people who composed this type
of poem and poetry
were often drunk!
Definition of
a Limerick
What is a Limerick? The definition of a limerick is
as follows: A limerick is a short poem or piece of
poetry consisting of 5 lines. A limerick is written
in anapestic or amphibrachic meter
with a rhyme scheme of aabba - the letters indicate
which lines rhyme.
Funny
Limericks
Everyone laughs at limerick poems and poetry. They
are great fun and amuse all ages. One of our
favorite funny limerick examples are as follows:
There was a
young lady named Perkins,
Who had a great fondness for gherkins;
She went to a tea
And ate twenty-three,
Which affected her internal workin's!
Irish
Limericks
The Irish limerick is one of the most famous and
suited to the well known and much loved Irish sense
of humour.
There was a
young girl from New York,
Whose ancestors all came from Cork,
Who possessed an idea
That in order to be queer
She had to eat soup with a fork!
Kids
Limericks
Kids limericks are great fun and an easy way to get
kids interested in poems and poetry. Because
limericks are simple and short it is easy for kids
and children to learn how to write limericks.
I'd rather
have fingers than toes,
I'd rather have ears than a nose
And as for my hair
I'm glad it's all there,
I'll be awfully sad when it goes!
Famous
Limericks
The most famous limericks of all are written by the
English Poet Edward Lear. His famous limerick
entitled "There once was a man from Nantucket" has
been used for the basis of many other limerick
poems.
There was a
young person of Bantry,
Who frequently slept in the pantry;
When disturbed by the mice
She appeased them with rice,
That judicious young person of Bantry.
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