![]() Often attributed to Ogden Nash, the above example is one of the most beloved limericks of all time. His bill will hold more than his belican, In the above example, Nash combines alliteration of the “fl” sound and homophone examples such as “flee” and “flea” and “flue” and “flew” to make his poem comical. The humorist Ogden Nash is also known for a number of famous limericks. In this example, John Clarke repeats the same first line as in Lear’s poem in Example #2, but makes his own limerick even more ridiculous by simply repeating the word “beard” at the end of each line to mimic the expected rhyme scheme. Example #3Īfter Edward Lear wrote so many well-known limerick examples, many people used the form to parody Lear’s verse. As expected, the material discussed in this limerick is light-hearted and follows the rhyme scheme and rolling meter of the form. Example #2Įdward Lear is the most noted writer of limericks, and is credited with the rise of their popularity in the 19th century. When we find examples of limericks in Shakespeare plays, it’s a sign that the character has either gone mad (like Ophelia in Hamlet) or is a bit drunk, like in the case of Iago above. Though the popularity of the limerick form did not begin until a few hundred years after Shakespeare’s death, there are still examples of short poems in his plays which have all the key aspects of a limerick. Examples of Limerick in Literature Example #1 ![]() ![]() Thus, though it is not a serious form, some limericks display excellent word play and utilize literary devices such as assonance, consonance, and internal rhyme to create more aural unity. However, there are examples of limericks even in William Shakespeare plays, and some famous limericks have very clever turns of phrase. Many literary theorists and writers look down on limerick as a relatively mediocre pursuit. Though the limerick form has been popular among poets for the purpose of humor and wit, it has never been considered a form worthy of serious or profound poetic insights. ![]() The following poem was published in a newspaper in New Brunswick, Canada in 1880 that was noted to be to the tune of “Won’t you come to Limerick?” This was the first example of the word limerick being connected to this particular poetic form: ![]()
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