Transcript Limerick and Haiku Poetry - Sailfish English Language Arts

Limerick and Haiku Poetry
Limericks
• A limerick is a five-line poem written with one
couplet and one triplet.
• A couplet is a two-line rhymed poem.
• A triplet is a three-line rhymed poem.
• The rhyme pattern is a a b b a with lines 1, 2 and
5 containing three beats and rhyming, and lines 3
and 4 having two beats and rhyming.
• Some people say that the limerick was invented
by soldiers returning from France to the Irish
town of Limerick in the 1700's.
Practice with Limericks
A flea and a fly in a flue
Were caught, so what could they do?
Said the fly, "Let us flee."
"Let us fly," said the flea.
So they flew through a flaw in the flue.
• How many beats are in each line (1, 2, and 5
should have three beats; 2 and 4 should have two
beats)?
• Does this limerick follow the a a b b a pattern?
Practice with Limericks
Try completing this limerick.
There once was a pauper named Meg
Who accidentally broke her _______.
She slipped on the ______.
Not once, but thrice.
Take no pity on her, I ________.
Create your Own!
• Work in groups to create your own limerick.
• Use the a a b b a 5-line form to create your
poem.
• Practice the rhythm of limericks by clapping
you hands or snapping your fingers.
Haiku
• Haiku poems are generally written to describe nature.
• The most widely recognized form consists of a threeline stanza that has a total of 17 syllables, written in
the following pattern:
Line 1: 5 syllables
Line 2: 7 syllables
Line 3: 5 syllables
Clouds float slowly by
Fluffy, lumpy, cotton balls
Silver, gray, and white
• The words and phrases used in haiku do not rhyme.
Practice with Haiku
• When writing a haiku, the author's purpose is to transform a
seemingly common nature-related topic into something special or
extraordinary by using words.
Bursting in bright hues
Splashing colors all about
Autumn leaves must fall
• How many syllables are there in each line of this poem?
• What is the subject (topic) of this poem?
• What interesting and descriptive words to you see in this poem?
Create your Own!
• The first step in writing a haiku poem is to choose a
good topic. Haiku poems are generally written about
nature.
• Let’s brainstorm a list of nature-related topics. Subjects
might include: different types of weather, clouds,
landforms, water formations, seasons, etc.
• Brainstorm words or phrases that describe the topic.
• Put the words and phrases together to describe the
topic in three lines according to the 5-7-5 syllable
pattern.
• Work in groups to create your own haiku.