Narrative Poetry

A poem that tells a story is called a narrative poem. A narrative is a story. A narrative is just like any other story; it has character, plot, setting, and dialogue. But poetry adds other elemenst to storytelling--especially sounds and images. To create musical sounds, poets use rhythm, rhyme, and repeated sounds. Poets also create word pictures with words that appeal to the senses. We call it imagery.

This link will take you to a narrative poem by Ted Hughes.

Thinking It Over

Who are the characters in this poem?

What can you tell me about them?

Gardens are usually peaceful. Is that true about this garden?

How many conflicts do you see in the poem? Explain.

How would you describe the beat of this poem?

What examples of sounds and images do you hear and see?

Writing a Narrative Poem

Apply what you already know about writing stories to writing a narrative poem. Try starting with a character or situation. After you've jotted down some ideas, share them with a few classmates. Then choose an idea that you really like.

Whether you rhyme the ends of the lines is up to you. Experimant with a few lines to decide. Listen for rhythm. Notice where the beats, or stresses, are. The rhythm should sound pleasing, not annoying. Break your poem into lines and stanzas that seem natural. Also, don't forget other tools of the poet--repeated sounds and sensory images. After you have finished writing, read your poem aloud to hear how it sounds.

Make a clean copy of your poem, and proofread it carefully. Your class might create a poem clothesline to hang your finished poems on, or you might perform some of your poems in class.

To add the poem to your portfolio, date the poem and include a written response to this question: In what ways is writing a poem different from writing a story?