Originatedin Debate: Limerick, the birthplace of the limerick?
In the year 1907, a peculiar literary craze swept across the nation, captivating the hearts and minds of many - the limerick craze. This humorous verse form, characterised by its five-line stanza and AABBA rhyming scheme, had roots that could be traced back to the 13th century, with Thomas Aquinas penning one of the earliest examples.
The limerick, originating in Ireland, gained popularity in the 18th century, associated with the city of Limerick, before Edward Lear famously used the form in the 19th century. However, the exact timing and reasons for its popularization before Lear's use remain somewhat unclear.
The limerick craze, fuelled by competitions offering cash prizes for the best concluding line, attracted significant attention, not just domestically, but also from the foreign press in September 1907. The London Opinion and Truth magazine, known for its iconic Kitchener poster, launched a limerick competition in January of the same year.
However, the limerick craze was not without controversy. Some denounced it as causing harm to large masses of people, with one newspaper receiving a staggering 169,000 entries, raising questions about fair judging and the potential lottery-like nature of the competitions. Despite these concerns, the limerick competitions were saved from being banned as gambling due to the argument that completing a limerick required 'the exercise of a certain degree of mental ability'.
Limerick enthusiasts were so engrossed in their poetic pursuits that they often missed stops on buses and trains, becoming 'temporarily lost in the maze of possible solutions'. Some even missed appointments and trains due to their absorption in discussions.
Despite the craze disappearing by the end of 1907, the limerick remains one of the nation's most popular types of poem. Martin Fone, a freelance writer and blogger, has a passion for investigating quirks and oddities of life and answering curious questions. His latest book, More Curious Questions, delves into the intriguing world of limericks and their enduring appeal.
In Shakespeare's Othello (Act 2, Scene 3, 1603), Iago's drinking song provides another early example of the limerick form. The first American examples of limericks appeared in Charles Leland's Ye Book of Copperheads (1863). Edward Lear is also associated with establishing the normal format of a limerick with his work in the 19th century.
The term 'limerick' was popularized by the Irish literary movement in the 18th century, but the exact details of this popularization remain somewhat elusive. Regardless, the limerick craze of 1907 serves as a fascinating glimpse into a unique moment in literary history.
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