1. Story Telling:
* Plot: A narrative poem tells a story with a beginning, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
* Characters: The poem features characters who drive the plot forward.
* Setting: The story unfolds in a specific time and place.
2. Poetic Elements:
* Meter: The poem follows a specific rhythmic pattern, often using iambic pentameter (five pairs of unstressed and stressed syllables).
* Rhyme: The poem often uses rhyme schemes, such as ABAB or AABB, to enhance the musicality.
* Imagery: Vivid descriptions are used to create a picture in the reader's mind.
* Figurative language: Similes, metaphors, personification, etc. are employed to create a deeper understanding and meaning.
3. Theme:
* Underlying message: The story explores a central theme or idea, providing a deeper meaning to the plot.
* Moral or lesson: The narrative might teach a moral lesson or highlight important social issues.
4. Voice and Tone:
* Narrator: A distinct voice, often a narrator, tells the story, and this voice may or may not be a character in the story.
* Tone: The poem's overall tone can be humorous, serious, tragic, romantic, etc.
5. Structure:
* Stanzas: The poem is divided into stanzas, which often correspond to different parts of the story or a shift in tone.
* Line breaks: The placement of line breaks can emphasize specific words or phrases and influence the rhythm and flow of the poem.
Examples of Narrative Poems:
* "The Odyssey" by Homer
* "The Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer
* "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe
* "Casey at the Bat" by Ernest Lawrence Thayer
* "The Highwayman" by Alfred Noyes
It's important to remember that not all narrative poems adhere to every feature listed above. Some poems might deviate from traditional structures and elements, while still remaining compelling narratives. The most important feature is the presence of a story being told.