Nonsense poetry can be found in nursery rhymes and limericks, and refers to any poetry that is nonsensical in nature. It is often lighthearted and written to entertain children. Popular writers of nonsense poetry include Lewis Carroll, Edward Lear, Roald Dahl, and Dr. Seuss. Nonsense poetry can also include poems and riddles that make perfect grammatical sense but don’t make semantic sense. Many cultures and languages have embraced nonsense verse throughout history.
Nonsense poetry, or nonsense verse, can be found in nursery rhymes, limericks, and even old Anglo-Saxon riddles. Nonsense poetry refers to any kind of poetry that is nonsensical in nature, whether some words are invented and meaningless or the words exist but make little sense in the context in which they are used. Often nonsense poetry is lighthearted and has a simple rhyming pattern to it. Most nonsense poems were written to entertain and amuse children, such as the lines found in children’s nursery rhymes.
Popular writers of nonsense poetry throughout history include Lewis Carroll, Edward Lear, Roald Dahl, and popular children’s book author Dr. Seuss. The works of Lewis Carroll are examples of nonsense lines in which words are composed. He’s poem Jabberwocky features phrases like “vorpal sword,” “manxome foe,” and “uffish thought.” While Carroll later explained the words and how he chose them – often combining various words that described the word he was looking for – they are still nonsensical and the reader could attach any meaning to them he wanted.
Dr. Seuss also featured made-up words in his children’s books, although the intent of each word is clear and takes on a specific meaning to those who read the books. However, the books are in keeping with the light and funny nature of nonsense poetry. Examples of Dr. Seuss’ imaginative catchphrases include the book titles There’s a Wocket in My Pocket and Horton Hears a Who! The word “who” exists, but it is used in a way that doesn’t follow what a traditional English speaker would expect to hear.
Conversely, nonsense poetry can also include poems and riddles that make perfect sense grammatically but don’t make sense semantically, referring to what words mean when read as a whole or as part of a sentence. “’I see,’ said the blind man” is a popular phrase that plays on the phrase “I see” which means both “I understand” and “I can see”. The nonsensical part comes from the fact that man, being blind, cannot see at all. Anglo-Saxon puzzlers took advantage of these puns to create poems that seemed nonsensical, but actually referred to specific objects or creatures.
Many cultures and languages have embraced nonsense verse at one point or another during their history. Today, gibberish is mostly found in humorous texts or children’s books. It focuses less on puzzles that require the listener to solve them and more on stringing together unusual or made-up words for fun.
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