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2. Contents Edward Lear A limerick Examples of limericks Examples of limericks

3. A limerick A limerick is a popular form of short, humorous verse that is usually nonsensical and often vulgar. Limericks consist of five lines rhyming aabba. That is, the first, second, and last lines rhyme with each other, and the third and fourth lines, which are shorter, rhyme with each other. How and when limericks began is unknown, but poets in County Limerick, Ireland, were writing them in Irish in the 18th century. Collections of limericks in English began to appear in about 1820. Edward Lear, who composed and illustrated the limericks in his Book of Nonsense (1846), claimed to have gotten the idea from a nursery rhyme beginning "There was an old man from Tobago. The lyricist W.S. Gilbert displayed his skill with the form in a sequence of limericks that Arthur Sullivan set as a song in their 1877 operetta The Sorcerer In the early 20th century, magazines and business places often held limerick contests. Some limericks are written in French or Latin. The peculiarities of English spelling provide the humor in other limericks, and still others make brief comments about serious philosophical matters.

4. Edward Lear {1812-88). The English humorist Edward Lear made famous the limerick form of verse and illustrated his work with amusing pictures. The gentle, friendly man was always fond of children, and most of his writing was done for their pleasure. Edward Lear was born May 12, 1812, in London. He was the youngest in a family of 21 children. His father, once a wealthy stockbroker, was imprisoned for debt; and Edward had to start earning his own living at 15. Lear had always enjoyed drawing pictures of birds, animals, and plants, and he soon began to specialize in natural history and medical drawings. He was hired to make drawings of the brilliantly colored parrots in the Regent's Park Zoo in London, and in a year he had produced 42 lithographic plates. Precise in line and faithful in color, these won the acclaim of many scientists. Seeing them, the 13th earl of Derby invited Lear to come to Knowsley Hall, his estate near Liverpool, and make drawings of his private collection of animals. Lear became the favorite of the earl's nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. He entertained the children with comic drawings and with limericks.

5. Examples of limericks There was an Old Man who supposed That the street door was partially closed; But some very large rats Ate his coats and his hats, While that futile Old Gentleman dozed. My name is John Wellington Wells, I'm a dealer in magic and spells, In blessings and curses, And ever-fill'd purses, In prophecies, witches, and knells.