Rules for Writing Limericks

Before we all go off the rails, here's one of the most famous and well-known limericks written by Edward Lear in 1846 to use as an example of the rhyme scheme and cadence.

There was an Old Man with a Beard

BY EDWARD LEAR

There was an Old Man with a beard, A 8 Syllables

Who said, "It is just as I feared! A 8 syllables

Two Owls and a Hen, B 5 syllables

four Larks and a Wren, B 5 syllables

Have all built their nests in my beard. A 8 Syllables

It not only follows the (AA BB A ) rhyming scheme but also has a defined cadence or rhythm structure produced by the number of syllables in each line as shown above which is 8 8 5 5 8 .

Lear's limericks were often written in only 4 lines , combining lines 3 & 4 together. I've separated them in the example .

But there's more!

The rhythm of a limerick is anapestic, which means two unstressed syllables are followed by a third stressed syllable.

The first, second, and final line each have three anapests—da dum da da dum da da dum.

The third and fourth lines have two anapests-—da dum da da dum.

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-a-limerick#3TPDcNpEExyvghqiVO41F6