Funny Poetry

Poetry isn’t always serious — in fact, it can be downright hilarious! From puns to playful rhymes, poets have used wordplay for centuries to make readers giggle. In this WebQuest, you'll explore how wordplay is used to create funny poetry — and you’ll even write your own!

By the end of this WebQuest, you will:

1. Learn what wordplay is and how it’s used in poetry.

2. Analyze examples of funny poems that use wordplay.

3. Create your own short, funny poem using at least two types of wordplay.

Step 1: Wordplay 101 Visit the following sites to learn about different types of wordplay:

• Poetic Devices – Look up terms like pun, homophone, rhyme, and double meaning.

• Kids Poetry Playground – A fun place to read silly poems and see wordplay in action. 

Your job: Write down definitions and an example for three types of wordplay.

Step 2: Giggle Time! Read these funny poems:

• “Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out” by Shel Silverstein

• “Be Glad Your Nose is on Your Face” by Jack Prelutsky

• “I’m Being Eaten by a Boa Constrictor” by Shel Silverstein

Your job: For each poem, answer:

• What type(s) of wordplay are used?

• Which line made you laugh the most and why?

  Step 3: Your Turn to Be Funny Now that you’re a wordplay expert, write your own funny poem (at least 8 lines) using two or more types of wordplay. You can be as silly, strange, or clever as you like — just make sure your poem includes:

• At least one pun

• A rhyme scheme

• One surprising or playful twist

You've explored an unusual world of wordplay and learned how poets make us laugh using rhymes, puns, and funny language. You developed as a critic and a writer along the road, taking inspiration from the classics and creating your own humorous rhymes. You now know how to use humor, which is a strong poetic device! Continue to experiment with words, and who knows? Perhaps your upcoming poetry will make the entire class giggle.

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• Poetry Foundation – for definitions and poems

• Giggle Poetry – for fun and educational poetry for kids
  
  All materials are used for educational purposes only.

This WebQuest can be done individually or in pairs. It can be adapted for younger grades with simplified instructions or used as part of a larger poetry unit.