Epic Poetry:
* Long, narrative poems focusing on heroic deeds and the history or mythology of a nation or culture.
* Often involve gods and supernatural elements.
* Examples: *The Odyssey*, *The Epic of Gilgamesh*, *Beowulf*
Ballad:
* Short, narrative poems often set to music.
* Focus on love, adventure, tragedy, or the supernatural.
* Often feature a simple rhyme scheme and repetitive stanzas.
* Examples: "Barbara Allen," "The Ballad of the Green Berets," "The Twa Corbies"
Romance:
* Focuses on romantic love and adventure.
* Often features idealized characters and settings.
* Examples: *The Song of Roland*, *The Canterbury Tales*, *Sir Gawain and the Green Knight*
Metrical Tale:
* A longer, more complex narrative poem than a ballad.
* Focuses on stories with moral or philosophical themes.
* Examples: *The Canterbury Tales*, *The Faerie Queen*, *Don Juan*
Verse Novel:
* A longer, more complex narrative poem than a metrical tale.
* Told in verse format but with a plot and character development similar to a novel.
* Examples: *The Odyssey*, *Paradise Lost*, *Don Juan*
Other Subtypes:
* Idyll: Focuses on pastoral settings and idyllic scenes.
* Pastoral: Depicts life in the countryside and celebrates rural simplicity.
* Lyric: Often includes elements of personal feeling and emotion.
* Didactic: Aims to teach a lesson or moral.
Important Note: These are just some of the most common subtypes of narrative poetry. There are many other categories and subcategories, and poems often blend elements from multiple types. Ultimately, the categorization of a poem is less important than its ability to tell a compelling story and engage the reader.