A lipogram is a form of writing (or word game) which forbids the use of a particular letter or letters. Generally, a lipogram forbids the letter ‘e,’ one of the most common letters in the English language. But many variations have been used.
Entire novels have been written in lipogram. For instance, author Walter Abish wrote Alphabetical Africa, constraining each chapter by alphabet. Chapter 1 uses only words beginning with the letter A. Chapter 2 allows words beginning with A and B, until Chapter 26, which permits all 26 letters of the English alphabet. The second half of the book removes letters in the reverse order in which they were added. Z words disappear in chapter 28, Y words in chapter 29, etc…
Over at the site, Curious Notions, the nursery rhyme “Sing a Song of Sixpence” is re-written several times. Here is just on example:
| Original:
Sing a song of sixpence The King was in the counting house |
No Is or Ss:
Croon a kreutzer canzonet, The Monarch, under lock and key, |
Here’s Your Prompt:
Re-write a famous nursery rhyme, poem or saying in the style of a lipogram.
Here are some resources you may need to help you:
Leave a Reply