大象传媒

Watch: Limericks

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People think that poems have to rhyme 鈥 well, they don鈥檛! Rhyming must be used carefully 鈥 using it too much can make your poems boring, hard to listen to and understand.

Poems with strict rules, known as a rhyming structure, can make your poem more predictable and fun to listen to. Two poems with a strict rhyming structure are limericks and clerihews.

Learn about limericks by watching this video.

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What is a limerick?

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Limericks

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  • Limericks follow a strict rhyming pattern.
  • In a limerick the first, second and fifth lines have the same rhythm and rhyme.
  • The third and fourth lines rhyme with each other too.

Watch this video to learn about the rhyming structures of certain types of poem, including limericks and clerihews.

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Watch: Rhyming structure of limericks and clerihews

Joseph Coelho talks about rhyming poems.

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Clerihews

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  • The first line is (or ends in) a person鈥檚 name.
  • The second, third and fourth lines add extra information or something funny.
  • The second line rhymes with the first.
  • The third and fourth lines rhyme too.
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Activity 1

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Activity 2

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Activity 3

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Have a go at writing a limerick or clerihew of your own (or both - it鈥檚 up to you!).

Top tips!

  • Remember to use the important rhyming structure for both types of poem.

  • If you can鈥檛 think of a subject to write about, have a look at these pictures on 大象传媒 Newsround for inspiration.

  • Don鈥檛 be afraid to make mistakes. Redrafting and editing is part of the writing process!

  • For more ideas and inspiration, have a look at the example from activity one.

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Play our fun English game Crystal Explorers. game

Use grammar, punctuation and spelling skills to explore jungles, caves and tombs on your mission!

Play our fun English game Crystal Explorers
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More on Poems

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