Narrative Poetry Handout

Narrative Poetry

What is narrative poetry? Narrative Poetry is a poem that tells a series of events using poetic devices such as rhythm, rhyme, compact language, and attention to sound. In other words, a narrative poem tells a story, but it does it with poetic flair! Many of the same elements that are found in a short story are also found in a narrative poem. Here are some elements of narrative poetry that are important:
o character
o setting
o conflict
o plot

Read these examples:

“Night Highway 99,” Gary Snider (Handout); "Out Out" Frost; "Song," Kelly (Handout)

Choose one of the poems and answer the following (in your journal):
Who are the characters in the poem?
What do you know about the speaker in the poem?
What character traits does each of the characters have? What evidence in the poem shows this?
What is the setting of the poem? (time and place)
What types of conflicts occur in the poem? (hint: there is more than one)
What is the mood of the poem?
Draw a small plot line. Tell what happens in the beginning, middle and end of the poem.


Writing narrative poetry
When writing narrative poetry a good place to start is with your own life’s experiences. Choose experiences that can be captured in a snapshot. Do you have a favorite photograph of you playing baseball when you were 6 years old? Or, how about the funny picture on your first birthday with you face full of cake? Maybe you can remember funny moment from a special vacation, or a moment with a grandparent that is very memorable. Remember, these are moment in time—not the whole event. A poem (unless you are writing an epic poem) captures snapshots, not 5 hour academy award winning movies!

Brainstorm 5 different “snapshot” experiences that you may be able to write a narrative poem about.
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5.

Next, gather sensory details about that experience. The best way I have found to do this is through clustering idea. Remember that not ALL the ideas need to be used in your poem, but don’t leave hole in the poem that would prevent a reader from connecting to your poem.
Now that you have your images, choose character for your poem. What is he or she like? Who will be the speaker of the poem?
The next step, just like in when writing a short story is to determine the conflict. What are the inner and outer conflicts in the even that you have chosen? How is the conflict resolved?
To identify plot in you poem create your own plot line below.
Now, craft the lines of your poem. If it doesn’t come together in the first draft, that’s okay. Narrative poetry always takes a couple of drafts to get the spirit of the poem down on the page. Remember to include a title that adds to the meaning of your poem. (A revised draft of this assignment should appear in your portfolio when I collect it on 3/3).