Nonsense verse
In 1846 Edward Lear published the first 'Book of Nonsense '. These were five line funny poems about silly things.We sometimes call these nonsense poems limericks.
Listen to these five Edward Lear limericks.
Look at this nonsense poem. Each line ends with one of two sounds. We call these sounds by letters (A or B).
The pattern is always: AABBA
There was an Old Man with a beard, (a)
Who said, "It is just as I feared! (a)
Two Owls and a Hen, (b)
Four Larks and a Wren, (b)
Have all built their nests in my beard!" (a)
There Was an Old Man with a Beard - Presentation play/read out poem after Before Reading slides* Teaching Notes
Free Presentation: The Book of Nonsense - A Quick Guide
Wonderful materials for English language learners!! Ms Fann, ESL teacher, Nashville, USA