Steps to create a Limerick (Duck and the Kangaroo)

Name ___________         Steps for Creating Your Own Limerick

Limericks are very structured poems and are often witty or humorous. They have five lines, the last words of lines one, two, and five rhyme and the last words of lines three and four rhyme. The rhythm of the limerick is also very strict and can be broken down as follows. Notice how each line is stressed and unstressed in specific places.

da-Dum da-da-Dum da-da-Dum                                    Write your draft here:

da-Dum da-da-Dum da-da-Dum                           

da-Dum da-da-Dum

da-Dum da-da-Dum

da-Dum da-da-Dum da-da-Dum

Put It To Use:

Let us write a limerick with the first line as ‘Once there was an unusual boy.’

Step 1: Think It Through

Brainstorm some ideas on why this boy is unusual. Where did he come from? What does he do? What does he say? What does he wear?

Brainstorms:

Walks backwards, talks with his eyes closed, does everything opposite, sleeps in his toy box, brushes his teeth with a pencil.

Step 2:  Think of some rhyming words that you can use in your Limerick: (also write the number of syllables)

Step 3: Write Your Poem

Now remembering our specific rhyme and rhythm pattern, write your poem with the given first line.

Things to watch out for:

Make sure lines 1, 2, and 5 rhyme and have three stressed words.

Make sure lines 3 and 4 rhyme and have two stressed words.

Make sure you indent lines 3 and 4 of your limerick.

Check spelling and grammar.