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I just read in Poetry for Dummies that poets are also storytellers. I never thought of myself as much of a storyteller, but when I studied some of my poetry, I realized that, yes, some of it does tell a story. Keeping with the theme of storytelling, this newsletter will focus on narrative poetry.
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Narrative Poetry
Narrative poetry, in the simplest sense, is poetry that tells a story. It’s quite possibly the oldest genre of poetry. When I think of narrative poetry, I think of the epic poem Beowulf, Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales Dante’s Divine Comedy, or the woeful The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe. These are classic examples of narrative poetry that many have read, or will read, in high school.
Epics and ballads are the two most popular forms of narrative poetry. Epics typically tell a tale of heroism or mythology and can be quite lengthy like The Iliad or The Epic of Gilgamesh. Ballads, on the other hand, are commonly lyrical in nature and often tell stories of romance. Many of the infamous Robin Hood stories are ballads.
So then, let’s break down the pieces of a narrative poem.
Speaker: All narrative poems have a narrator or speaker (also known as a persona). The speaker isn’t always the protagonist (the main character) and often is not the poet. The speaker can be an outsider who is telling the story. When writing or reading a narrative poem, it is important to consider who the speaker is and what his or her role is in the story.
Setting: The time, location and physical environment of the story. The setting of a poem binds the characters to a certain place and time. Sometimes the setting is divulged up front and other times only clues are given. Either way, the setting is important to understand as it can give valuable insight to the character’s and why they react in specific ways.
Situation: Refers to the circumstances at any moment in the poem. Is the poem about the entire life of the protagonist, or simply a slice of their life? Where is the poem actually taking place? What conditions are revealed about the protagonist?
Plot: Narrative poems have a plot, or set of events that are leading up to a specific emotional or moral end. The plot isn’t always straight forward and sequential, sometimes parts of it are hidden or left up to the readers’ imaginations.
Character: Character is the fictional representation of the protagonist and other members of the poem. What do the words say about the people in the poem? What conclusions do you draw from the descriptions given? What type of person acts in the ways depicted by the speaker?
Narrative poems can be quite challenging to write, but they also provide sources of great entertainment for the readers when they are well crafted. Why not try your hand at a narrative poem?
Let your love of poetry shine!
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Submitted by Elisa: Snowman Stik   – Though I'm a fan of free form more than anything, there are three forms I tend to favor if I opt to use a form.
The first is the pantoum. I adore repetons more than counting syllables. With pantoums, repetition does play a big role. However, I adore how the repeated lines take on new meaning when paired with new lines and so on.
Then there's the sestina. Like the pantoum, it's a French form with repetons. Of the two, I like the sestina a little bit more because it allows me to be a bit of a word acrobat. The form encourages using words in several parts of speech, and I love that sort of flexibility. It's a form I like to use for expressing dismay, although I once wrote a love sestina.
Speaking of love, my final favorite is the naga uta. This is the only syllable-conscious form I like because there is no set length. The 5/7 alternation is also great for conveying dread and suspense, which is why it's my favorite form for writing about forbidden love.
These are all terrific forms, Elisa. Thanks for sharing them and the reasons you love them. The pantoum is one of my favorites as well and I will do a newsletter devoted to it in the future. 
Submitted by Bella Bunny  – My favorite type of poetry is the traditional style that rhymes. Only rarely does a free-verse poem appeal to me. Rhythm is the next important part of good poetry. Sometimes a poem can rhyme, but it feels "awkward" when read aloud. I don't know if rhythm and meter are meant to be the same thing in poetry, but to me - that isn't necessarily true. For meter to be correct, a poem must have the appropriate number of syllables for the form being written. However, the correct syllable count may not "sound" right. On the other hand, a line may have an extra syllable, but the poem flows and the rhythm feels right. I write poetry as though it would be read aloud and I usually go for the rhythm instead of the meter. If you can get the rhyme, rhythm and meter to all fall into place, then you can thank the muses that guide your writing!
To all my companions at WDC, "write on!"
--"Bella Bunny"
Thanks so much for sharing your perspective with us Bella Bunny. I have to agree with you about getting the rhyme, rhythm and meter right – it takes a dedicated poet with a helpful muse! 
Submitted by Laart1-Season of the Heart – Acrostic is my favorite. I am not very good at poetry but the acrostic form seems to inspire me and help me stay focused. Good newsletter and choices. Thanks, Lin
Lin, acrostic poems are a favorite of mine, too. I will devote a newsletter to this form in the future. Thanks for your comment. 
The holidays are fast approaching and I know that everyone is busy, but I’d love to hear your ideas for future poetry newsletters. What would you like to see covered? What do you have questions about? Drop us a line, we love your input! |
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Poetry: November 08, 2006 Issue [#1361]
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