Narrative Poetry

Telling Stories through Poems

What is Narrative Poetry• A poem that tells a series of events using poetic devices such as

rhythm, rhyme, compact language and attention to words.– Diction– Theme– Tone/Mood– Imagery

• Many of the same elements found in a short story are found in a narrative poem.– Character– Conflict– Plot– setting

• It tells a story with poetic flair.

Narrative Poetry Examples• Answer the following:

– Who are the characters in the poem? Highlight in pink

– What do you know about the speaker in the poem?

– What are the traits of the character? How do you know?

– What is the setting of poem? Highlight in yellow

– What is the conflict? Highlight in green

– What is the tone? What is the mood?

– Identify plot: highlight in blue and bracket sections

Papa’s Fishing Hole by: Elisabeth D. BabinI place my tiny hand in hisas we walk to Papa’s Fishing Hole.I hand him a wiggling night crawlerfighting for his life.The deadly hook squishesthrough the worm’s head,and I watch the brown guts ooze out.Papa throws the pole’s long arm backand then forward.The line lands in a murky spotalong the reedy shore.Now I get to reel it in.Nothing yet, he says.He casts again. I reel it in.Still nothing.Three time’s a charm, he says.He casts.A strike.We turn the crank together.The fish jumps from the waterand his colors form a rainbowas he arches his body above the reeds.My Papa handles himwith the skill of a masteras I stop helping to watch him work.A stiff jerk, a quick reel, a stiff jerk again.The fish doesn’t have a chance, I yell.I know. I know. I know, he says.

Writing Narrative Poetry• Choose experience that can be captured in a snapshot

– Think of moments in time that you can use in a story• Brainstorm 5 different “snapshots” experiences that you may be able to

write a narrative poem about• Gather sensory details about the experience

– Put the experience in the middle and try a graphic organizer like a web• Choose character for your poem

– Yes, it is an experience you have gone through but who’s eyes are you telling it through?

– What is he or she like?– Are they the speaker or is there a narrator?

• Determine the conflict– What are the inner and outer conflicts?– How will it resolve?

Writing Narrative Poetry Cont.

• Plot out your poem using a simple plot line– Yes you have to include them all.