How to Write a Narrative Poem
71Narrative Poetry
A narrative poem is one that tells a story. It can be short or long. It can rhyme with a set pattern or without; it doesn't doesn't have to rhyme, though. It can have a set meter or be a little varied. Narrative poems don't follow too many rules, except that they must tell a story.
Although there are few rules to narrative poetry, most narrative poems to include meter, iambs, and rhymes to help create a more aesthetic picture.
Common narrative poems include epics, ballads, and idylls.
Famous narrative poems include The Divine Comedy by Dante, The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe, The Epic of Gilgamesh, Homer, and The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.
Book of Narrative Poems
 | Amazon Price: $8.00 List Price: $15.95 |
 | Amazon Price: $24.42 List Price: $27.45 |
 | Amazon Price: $9.60 List Price: $14.95 |
 | Amazon Price: $3.87 List Price: $9.00 |
Tips to Writing a Narrative Poem
- Think of your main character, whether it will be a person or an animal- most narratives focus on a living being. And, write a small statement of mini paragraph about the character.
- Start with a general outline of the poem. What do you want to happen to the character throughout the poem?
- Choose an event to start the poem. You can't just start all willy nilly. The event will help you portray the perfect feel, thought, and image to your poem. If you have a specific idea that you want to say, having the perfect event will help you get across your words.
- Once you know where you want to go with your poem, start writing.
Once writing your narrative poem, try to consider the following tips:
- The one great thing about poetry, is that it comes from the heart, body, and soul, of the poet. No poem is wrong, and no poet is wrong for writing the poem.
- You can portray just about any emotion or idea in a poem, and as long as you know what you want to say, the words tend to follow shortly after.
- Try to include fact, fiction, and a little personal reality to your poem. You can include various myths to help your narrative poem along, but try not to surround the story with mysticism.
- Use vivid words and adjectives to help create the picture. As a poet, you don't want to throw away your words to simplicity, such as "The brown dog chased the orange cat." Yes, the image is created, but what shade of brown, did he have spots? Was it a tabby cat? Were they thin, starving strays, or plump house pets?
- Go bold. Go big!
Example of a Kid's Narrative Poem
Jimmy Goes to the City by Arthur Read from PBS's "Arthur"
Jimmy was a happy ape
Until some hunters caught him
He liked the jungle better than
The city where they brought him
The city was louder
The city was meaner
Even the dirt in the jungle was cleaner
So Jimmy made a daring escape!
The hunters were suddenly minus one ape!
He climbed the tallest building
Because from there he'd see
How far away the jungle was
From the middle of the city.
Jimmy jumped into a passing plane
But the pilot didn't wait for him to explain
Jimmy flew back to the jungle
And told his ape friends in their lair
"The city's okay for a visit
But you couldn't make me live there."
vote upvote downshareprintflag
- Useful (91)
- Funny (68)
- Awesome (62)
- Beautiful (52)
- Interesting (25)
CommentsLoading...
This doesn't seem difficult, now, can you convince my English teacher that there is no 'wrong' way to type a narrative poem?
these poems helped me a lot
awesome this really helped me on my assignment ! : )
Really helpful one thanks, dear Whitney05.
this is great! Merci luv it
Thanks so much. The example was great I've got homework for narrative poems and this was really useful. YOUR AWESOME!!!!!!
Hi, this Hub is a related one to mine that I just wrote on a Grandmother's Endless Love. I like narrative poetry, but am never sure of myself. This Hub has been very helpful to me. Thanks for sharing.
thanks for the tips and i learn how to write a narrative poem and i submit my project to my teacher!!!!!!!!!!
I enjoyed your explanation of a narrative poem and also your silly example! It is fun to travel with creative minds like yours. Thanks.
Great and informative hub. Voted up!
this is great information.. i'm stuck on how to write a narrative poem in the anglo saxon style.. maybe you can help me? thank you
heeeeyyyyy you look like your the one who can help me figure out on doing a narrative poem.well seeing as this is such a good narrative pem i truly think and believe that you should a poem writer well a narrative one anywho.this is really good keep it up
Thank you i had a hard time writting a Narrative poem, maybe because i was afraid, thanks for the confidence and the lesson. I appreciate you. Now i really understand it. God bless you !
i need ideas for a narritive poem assignment.. can anyone help
?
Jenna- I find this was a VERY CUTE poem, It touched me, But it was a bit plain. :P
Marieke- It was plain, But cute, And Jimmy is a cute name for an ape and I dont think Jimmy would have jumped in the plane.:P
xoxo Jenna and Marieke :D
Wow this is truly great. Loved It.
Sweet wishes Rhonda
thanks now i now what i can use for my homework
Thanks for the article it helped me with a performance poem for a slam I am working on.
I'm in grade 8 and I had to write some narrative poetry thing... this helped a lot! (especially the bit that said it doesn't have to rhyme)=D
Thanks!
i had an assignment and i finally got it done
This is a good poem,, but not exactly what im looking for, a narrative poem about afro asia is what i need.. but thanks,, i have an idea about my project.
fantastic hub full of great info for those of starting out or picking up the pen for a second time...
thankyou
great poem i think i'll be able to write a narrative now.
awesome helped a lot
Great hub
I have a narrative poem to write and it's sooo hard
i have to write many poems do for an assignment tommorrow i have a good concrete one right now!
OMG i have to write a narritive for my homework assignment so hard to write ! ! ! ! !
well now i now how to write a narrative poem now because of your help (:LOL:)
well now i know how to write a narrative poem now thanks im goin to get so much better grades for this subject thanks to you
thanks... i have to write a narrative poem for english. so, this helped out!
I love you!!!! Now I understand what I have to do for homework!!!
thanks for posting this now i understand how to write a narrative poem for my homework
nice topic, very helpful
thanks for posting this
I enjoyed reading this hub a lot Whitney. I was glad to find it.
Hi Whitney - A fine article, and I enjoyed reading the NP you used as an example. Gus
thanks for the help
0
wow this is great! :)...thank you ma'am, i really learned something. I'll try this (most of the time i just write without minding the rules and without knowing the type of poem im writing about..just want to write when word dashes-that's it)...thank you very much again for sharing this! :)
I loved your poem. Hoped I could write like you one day
This is so cool. I love the poem about jimmy. The kid who wrote that has talent!!!!!!!!!!!!
im still in junior high so i dont rlly know how to write alot of poems but you helped me alot thnx
I loved the poem
Neat poem...your tips really helped me write an A+ narrative!Thanx!!
Thanks for the help im usually pretty good at writing and well now that i have to write a poetry book for and asignment im stuck!!!!
i cant write a narative poem for my life!!!!! someone please HEEEEEELP me!
Ben i feel ya it's hard writing a narrative poem period!! It would probably take me 5 hours to try to write my own without looking at the pcfor inspiration.
I love that poem. I am mmore at ease writing poetry now. I am an author, but feel more comfortable with poetry. THANKYOU!!
I AM STILL AT SCHOOL . AM LEARNING HOW TO WRITE DIFFERENT KINDS OF PEOMS WHICH I'M REALLY BAD AT. SO TRY TO WRITE MORE GREAT AND NICE POEM LIKE THE ONE ABOUT JIMMY.
um... thanx for the hints!
this is a awesome poem !
I'm a student in a middle school and I can't for the life of me write a one page narrative poem that rymes!!!! HEELP!
highwaystar- I have many interests. Poetry is and has been one of them for years.
Raven- narrative poems are usually thought of in regards to epics, but they don't always have to be. As long as they tell a story.
Thank you for the typo check! I just corrected it.
Nice hub. Just thought I'd mention that you have a typo in the title.
Thanks for this positive article on writing poetry. Now it doesn't seem too scary.
Thanks whitney05...you're a lady of many inspirational talents, what do you just do for fun, cheers!
Alexis 2 weeks ago
ugggh i have to write one of these, six haikus, 2 lyric poems, 2 free verses, 2 grammar poems, 2 odes, and 1 elegy for 125 points and its due in 2 days -_____- wish me luck /;