What is Narrative Poetry? Examples & How to Write It

Writers who want to set their stories in verse may be interested in the narrative poem. One of the oldest literary art forms in the history of written language, narrative poetry puts plot to poesy, combining the art of storytelling with the techniques of poetry writing. So, what exactly is a narrative poem? Understanding the core definition is key to appreciating the rich history and diverse forms of this genre, and to identifying a clear example of narrative in poetry.

To answer that question, we’ll explore the characteristics of narrative poetry and its various types, complete with illustrative narrative poem examples from both ancient and contemporary literature.

We’ll also look at practical advice on how to write a narrative poem, discussing the strategies poets can use to effectively balance the demands of both poetic form and compelling narrative storytelling. But first, let’s delve deeper into the fundamental question: what is a narrative poem?

Narrative Poem Definition: What is a Narrative Poem?

The narrative poem is a form of poetry used specifically to tell a story. The poet integrates fundamental elements of storytelling—such as plot, setting, and characters—with the distinct elements of poetry, including form, meter, rhyme, and various poetic devices.

Narrative poem definition: a form of literature that combines the essential elements of poetry with the foundational elements of storytelling.

The narrative poem holds the distinction of being the oldest form of poetry, and indeed, one of the oldest forms of literature known to humankind. Ancient and incredibly long narrative poem examples include epics like The Iliad and The Odyssey, The Epic of Gilgamesh, and The Mahabharata. Long before the advent of the written word and mass publishing, storytellers conveyed their narratives in verse, a practice that dates back to at least 2100 B.C.

Several factors contributed to the prevalence of narrative poetry in ancient times. The inherent challenge of writing in verse offered a form of intellectual engagement and entertainment. However, a primary reason was mnemonic: poetic elements like meter and rhyme served as crucial guideposts for the storyteller. By following the patterns of rhyme and syllabic stress, the orator could more easily remember the sequence of lines and plot points, thus serving both as a memory aid and a tool for performance and entertainment.

Today, the narrative poem has evolved considerably, adapting to the diverse storytelling needs of contemporary poets. While traditional constraints of meter and rhyme scheme may still be employed, many modern narrative poems embrace free verse. We will explore several contemporary narrative poem examples later, charting the evolution of this dynamic form against its ancient origins.

Narrative Poetry vs. Lyric Poetry

Distinguishing between narrative poetry and lyric poetry is important, as readers sometimes confuse the two terms. Despite sharing the ‘poetry’ label, they differ significantly in intent and focus.

The fundamental difference between narrative poetry vs. lyric poetry lies in the poem’s engagement with time.

The key distinction is the poem’s relationship with time. In a narrative poem, the measurable, progressive flow of time is central to the poem itself. We require the progression of time to follow the poem’s story: the sequence of events, the cause-and-effect relationships between actions and reactions of characters (A causes B causes C, and so on). Observing narrative poem examples clearly illustrates this temporal focus.

In contrast, a lyric poem often presents its events as suspended in time. While a lyric poem might reflect on moments from the past or contemplate time itself, its core purpose is to lift events, emotions, and images from their specific temporal context, presenting them as something more eternal or immutable (though open to interpretation) on the page.

Consider Louise Glück’s lyric poem “Early December in Croton-on-Hudson”:

Spiked sun. The Hudson’s Whittled down by ice. I hear the bone dice Of blown gravel clicking. Bone- pale, the recent snow Fastens like fur to the river. Standstill. We were leaving to deliver Christmas presents when the tire blew Last year. Above the dead valves pines pared Down by a storm stood, limbs bared . . . I want you.

While the poem references a specific time (“Early December,” “Last year”), its essence is not a sequence of events but a crystallization of a moment and its associated feelings (desire, memory) into an intense, timeless image.

Finally, it’s crucial to acknowledge that distinctions like narrative poetry vs. lyric poetry are not always absolute binaries. Many poems exist on a continuum between these forms. While understanding lyric and narrative helps writers frame their work, these terms serve primarily as categories rather than rigid rules governing the vast landscape of poetry.

Learn more about lyric poetry here: Lyric Poetry Definition: How to Write a Lyric Poem

Narrative Poetry Vs Prose Poetry

Contemporary narrative poems, especially novels in verse, might sometimes be mistaken for prose poems due to their visual layout. Both forms borrow strategies from prose writing, but a prose poem is rarely, if ever, a narrative poem in the traditional sense.

At its simplest, a prose poem is a form of poetry that deliberately avoids traditional line breaks. Instead of structuring the poem through lines, stanzas, meter, or rhyme, the prose poem allows thoughts and language to flow from margin to margin, appearing like a paragraph of prose.

Prose poems are typically quite short, rarely exceeding a few pages and often limited to just one page. This brevity usually precludes them from developing the extensive plot, character arcs, and setting details characteristic of a narrative poem. Furthermore, prose poems often function as intensely focused snapshots of the poet’s internal state, a moment, or an image, making them fundamentally more lyrical than narrative.

To explore this further, you can read our article What is a Prose Poem?

5 Types of Narrative Poetry

Across several millennia of literary history, various types of narrative poetry have emerged, each with its own stylistic nuances, forms, and intentions. Despite their differences, they all share the core goal of telling compelling stories through the powerful medium of verse.

Here are 5 key types of narrative poetry:

1. Types of Narrative Poetry: The Epic

The epic poem is a long-form narrative poem that typically recounts stories of heroic deeds and significant historical or mythological events. The protagonists of epic poems are often figures of extraordinary status—kings, knights, legendary heroes, or individuals whose actions profoundly influence the fate of nations or entire peoples.

In ancient times, epic poetry frequently centered on themes of gods and their interactions with humans, grand wars, or foundational events that shaped a people’s national identity. The Mahabharata, for instance, tells the story of a dynastic struggle between two groups of cousins for the throne of Hastinapura in ancient India. Interwoven within this conflict are complex discussions of morality, dharma, political duty, and tales involving various deities, culminating in a vast narrative that continues to influence aspects of Indian culture today.

A more localized example, Beowulf, while perhaps not contributing as directly to modern English nationalism, offers invaluable insights into the language, culture, and societal values of the early Middle Ages.

Epic poems are less common in the contemporary literary landscape, partly because they fulfilled cultural and social needs of the past that are no longer as prominent today. Classic examples of epic poetry include The Mahabharata, Beowulf, The Aeneid (by Virgil, continuing the story of Troy after The Iliad), The Epic of Gilgamesh, and The Shahnameh (The Book of Kings), among many others.

2. Types of Narrative Poetry: The Ballad

Among the forms of narrative poetry, the ballad is considered more modern than the ancient epics, though it too has a history spanning several centuries. Originating in Europe, likely England, during the late Middle Ages, ballads were narrative poems designed to be sung, often serving as accompaniment for dances or as entertainment for large audiences. Like epics, early ballads frequently narrated the exploits of extraordinary individuals, such as folk heroes like Robin Hood.

Later, in the 19th century, the ballad form experienced a revival among Romantic and Victorian-era poets who admired its blend of folksy simplicity and literary potential. Because this evolution spanned centuries, the meter and subject matter of ballad poetry vary considerably. However, their primary purpose consistently remained to tell stories and entertain listeners or readers.

While ballads are not as dominant in the 21st century, significant 19th-century examples that serve as good narrative poem examples include The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge and The Ballad of Reading Gaol by Oscar Wilde.

3. Types of Narrative Poetry: The Idyll

The adjective “idyllic” is used to describe something reminiscent of charmingly simple rural and pastoral life. Correspondingly, Idyll poems are narrative poems that celebrate, describe, or explore rustic life, often focusing on peaceful, idealized scenes or simple everyday events.

Idyllic poetry is typically shorter than epic poems or novels in verse, but it still builds a narrative, however brief. Often, a collection of idylls will be linked together to form a larger, overarching story or thematic sequence. For example, Alfred Lord Tennyson’s Idylls of the King consists of 12 idylls that collectively retell the Arthurian legends, focusing on King Arthur, his relationship with Guinevere, and the rise and fall of his kingdom.

Perhaps a stylistically different but still illustrative example is Friedrich Nietzsche’s Idylls from Messina. These 8 poems describe various aspects of the idyllic life as observed by Nietzsche while he was writing in Sicily. Although the writing is somewhat more lyrical than many traditional idylls (and despite Nietzsche not being a poet by profession), the simple, descriptive storytelling style characteristic of idyllic poetry can be observed in the speaker’s word choice and relatively straightforward approach.

4. Types of Narrative Poetry: The Lay

The lay (sometimes spelled “lai”) is a relatively long narrative poem that, like other forms discussed, evolved over several centuries. The earliest significant examples of lay poems were written by Marie de France, a French poet of the late 12th century. Lays were often tales of romance, chivalry, and intense emotional experiences, frequently involving elements of the supernatural or Arthurian legend.

Lay poetry was typically composed in octosyllabic rhyming couplets, meaning each line contained eight syllables and lines rhymed in pairs (AA, BB, CC…). Before Marie de France, some Celtic poetry also fit the description of lay, incorporating aspects of Celtic mythology and telling stories of fairies and the supernatural. Lay poems consistently utilize rhyme and generally do not exceed 1,000 lines.

Primarily confined to the Middle Ages, lay poetry saw few practitioners outside of the Middle English period. Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales includes instances that resemble the lay form, most notably The Franklin’s Tale, which explores themes of truth, generosity, and the nature of promises within a romantic narrative.

5. Types of Narrative Poetry: The Novel in Verse

Among contemporary narrative poems, the novel in verse is a prominent form. A verse novel is precisely what its name suggests: a story of novel length told entirely through lines of poetry rather than conventional prose paragraphs. (If you’re unsure about the distinction, our article on Prose Vs Poetry can clarify).

Given its relatively modern and experimental nature, the novel in verse doesn’t adhere to rigid rules. However, many verse novels tend to feature first-person narrators, employ short chapters or sections, and often utilize non-linear storytelling techniques. Additionally, verse novels frequently place a strong emphasis on internal dialogue and emotions, sometimes incorporating stream-of-consciousness elements to capture the protagonist’s inner world.

The novel in verse is gaining significant traction across various age groups, particularly in young adult literature. This form offers a unique way to delve deeply into a character’s emotional landscape while maintaining the forward momentum of a narrative.

Notable contemporary narrative poem examples in this form include: Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson (a retelling of a Greek myth), The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo (a coming-of-age story in Harlem told through spoken word poetry), Omeros by Derek Walcott (an epic retelling of Homer set in the Caribbean), Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai (a story of a Vietnamese refugee family), and Dreaming of You by Melissa Lozada-Oliva (a contemporary story blending narrative and lyrical elements).

Characteristics of Narrative Poetry

What common threads connect these diverse types of narrative poetry, from ancient epics to modern verse novels? The key characteristics shared by narrative poems include:

• An Emphasis on Storytelling: At their core, narrative poems prioritize conveying a story with a discernible plot, setting, characters, and often conflict and resolution. They aim to move the reader through a sequence of events.
• Experimental or Distinctive Language: While perhaps not always “experimental” in the avant-garde sense, narrative poems employ distinctive poetic language—imagery, metaphor, rhythm, sound devices—to enhance the storytelling. The language is chosen not just to convey information but to evoke emotion, build atmosphere, and deepen characterization in ways prose alone might not.
• Potential for Non-linear Structure: While some follow a straightforward chronology, many narrative poems, particularly contemporary ones, may play with time. They might jump forward or backward, start in media res (in the middle of the action), or weave together seemingly disparate events before unifying them into a cohesive narrative tapestry.
• Form Reflects Content and Context: As seen in the different types, the form of a narrative poem is often closely tied to its content, the era it was written in, and its cultural context. Ancient epics had rigid forms for performance and memorization, while contemporary verse novels might be free verse to reflect modern speech patterns and internal thought processes. The choice of form is integral to how the story is told.
• Often Includes Mythological or Historical Elements: Traditionally, narrative poetry frequently drew from mythology, legend, or history to tell grand stories. While not a requirement for modern forms, this connection to shared cultural narratives is a significant part of the genre’s history and persists in works that retell or engage with myths.
• Strong Internal Characterization: Poetry’s ability to capture subtle shifts in thought and feeling makes it well-suited for exploring the inner lives of characters. Many narrative poems, especially modern ones, offer deep dives into a character’s motivations, emotions, and internal struggles, often employing a first-person or limited third-person point of view.

Observing these characteristics in action is best done by looking at concrete narrative poem examples.

Narrative Poem Examples

To fully appreciate the form, let’s examine several narrative poem examples from both classic and contemporary literature. While some are quite lengthy in their entirety, the excerpts and brief analyses below will illustrate how these poems function as narratives in verse. We’ve selected pieces that are generally accessible without extensive prior knowledge, unlike very ancient texts which often benefit from scholarly footnotes.

Pay attention to how each poem establishes its setting, manipulates the progression of time, and utilizes poetic language to drive the story and deepen its meaning. These examples provide a rich basis for poetry with analysis.

“Litany in Which Certain Things are Crossed Out” by Richard Siken

Read the full poem here.

Richard Siken’s poem is a powerful example of contemporary narrative poetry that uses striking imagery and unconventional structure to tell a story of tumultuous love, desire, and self-perception. The “crossed out” text visually represents the speaker’s internal editing, their struggle to articulate or suppress certain feelings or truths. The poem builds its narrative through a series of intense, fragmented images and statements, often shifting between fantastical scenarios (castles, dragons) and raw emotional reality.

The narrative isn’t linear but unfolds through the speaker’s obsessive returns to certain moments or feelings, creating a sense of being trapped within a psychological landscape. The poem tells a story not just through explicit events, but through the way the speaker thinks and feels about those events, demonstrating narrative through psychological depth and fragmented recollection. It’s a compelling, raw narrative about the complexities of love and identity, conveyed through a unique poetic voice.

The Glass Essay by Anne Carson

The Glass Essay book cover long narrative poem

Read the full poem here.

Anne Carson’s The Glass Essay defies easy categorization. While technically a long narrative poem, Carson herself has referred to some of her work in this vein as “lyric essays,” highlighting their blend of personal reflection, academic inquiry, and storytelling. Regardless of label, The Glass Essay undeniably possesses a narrative arc. It chronicles the speaker’s retreat to her aging mother’s isolated cottage, following the painful end of a romantic relationship.

The poem weaves together this central narrative with explorations of literature (particularly the Brontë sisters), mythology, philosophy, and family history. It tells a story of coping with heartbreak, engaging with the past, and navigating complex family dynamics, all filtered through a fiercely intellectual and deeply emotional consciousness. The “story” here is as much internal as external, a journey through memory, thought, and feeling during a specific period of solitude. It showcases how narrative poetry can integrate diverse elements—intellectual exploration, personal history, emotional processing—into a compelling whole. The poem’s structure, moving between descriptions of the physical setting, memories, and literary analysis, creates a complex, layered narrative experience.

“Casey at the Bat” by Ernest Lawrence Thayer

Read the full poem here.

A quintessential example of a narrative poem, Ernest Lawrence Thayer’s “Casey at the Bat” is a ballad that tells a complete story with a clear plot, setting, and central character. The poem narrates the dramatic final inning of a baseball game in the fictional town of Mudville. The narrative builds suspense as the underdog home team faces defeat, placing all hope on their star player, Casey.

The poem follows a clear sequence of events: the preceding batters failing, Casey’s登場 (entrance), the tension mounting with each pitch, the first strike, the second strike, and the final, climactic swing and miss. The story structure is linear and easy to follow, typical of the ballad form adapted for entertainment. Thayer uses rhyme and meter effectively to create a lively, rhythmic pace that mirrors the action of the game and the rising excitement and tension in the crowd. Each stanza acts almost like a scene, vividly depicting the sights and sounds of the ballpark and the emotional roller coaster of the fans. The poem’s enduring popularity lies in its simple, yet perfectly executed narrative structure and its ability to capture a universal experience of hope and disappointment through vivid imagery and musical language. It’s a perfect example of how a simple plot can be elevated into a memorable narrative poem through skilled versification.

Aurora Leigh by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Aurora Leigh long narrative poem book cover

Read the full poem here.

Published in 1856, Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Aurora Leigh is a monumental work and an early example of what we might now call a novel in verse. This extensive narrative poem, structured into nine books, tells the life story of its eponymous protagonist, Aurora, from her childhood in Italy and England through her development as a woman and a poet in Victorian society. The narrative follows Aurora’s personal growth, her artistic ambitions, her relationships (particularly with her cousin Romney Leigh), and her observations on the social issues of her time.

The poem functions very much like a novel, with character development, multiple plot threads, shifts in setting, and a clear thematic focus. Barrett Browning uses the poetic form—primarily blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter)—to explore complex social questions surrounding women’s roles, class inequality, poverty, and the purpose of art. The poetic language allows for deep psychological insight into Aurora’s thoughts and feelings, offering a rich first-person perspective on her experiences and the world around her. Aurora Leigh is a powerful example of a narrative poem tackling broad societal issues and personal journeys on a grand scale, demonstrating the form’s capacity for novelistic depth and complexity.

“Trevor” by Ocean Vuong

Read the full poem here.

Ocean Vuong’s “Trevor” is a contemporary narrative poem that exemplifies the form’s evolution. This poem tells a story of queer identity, masculinity, and connection, narrated through a series of vivid, often fragmented images and reflections. The narrative isn’t driven by a conventional plot but by the speaker’s internal landscape and memories associated with the figure of Trevor.

The poem’s power lies in its experimental use of form and language. Vuong employs striking, often surprising metaphors and shifts in perspective. While visually appearing as free verse, the language has a strong internal rhythm and carefully crafted line breaks that guide the reader through the emotional narrative. The story unfolds through evocative moments and sensory details rather than strict chronological events. The central question explored—how tenderness and bravery intersect, particularly within experiences of queer desire and societal expectations—forms the emotional core of the narrative. “Trevor” is a beautiful and moving example of narrative poetry that demonstrates the modern form’s ability to tell deeply personal and emotionally resonant stories through innovative poetic techniques.

How to Write a Narrative Poem: 7 Tips

Writing a narrative poem can be a rewarding challenge. It requires blending the structured world of storytelling with the evocative power of verse. The following 7 tips offer guidance on how to approach this unique form. Keep in mind that narrative poetry, especially longer forms, demands both an understanding of poetic craft and basic narrative principles.

Above all, embrace the process, allow for spontaneity, and enjoy the intricate dance between story and song.

1. How to Write a Narrative Poem: Read Narrative Poetry Like a Poet

A fundamental step for any aspiring poet is to master the skill of reading poetry attentively, engaging with the text on multiple levels—paying attention not just to meaning but to craft. When learning how to write a narrative poem, specifically focus on how narrative poems are constructed. Immerse yourself in various narrative poem examples, spanning both ancient and contemporary works. As you read, ask yourself critical questions: How does the poet reveal the story? What narrative elements (plot, character, setting) are prioritized? How do poetic devices (imagery, metaphor, meter, rhyme, line breaks) contribute to or even become the story? How does the form influence the pace and feel of the narrative? Analyzing existing works provides invaluable lessons in technique.

2. How to Write a Narrative Poem: Consider Poetic Forms

As you read like a poet, you’ll notice the vast range of forms narrative poems can take. While ancient forms like epics and ballads often adhered to strict meter and rhyme schemes, many contemporary narrative poems utilize free verse. This doesn’t mean your poem must be experimental or abandon traditional forms, but it’s crucial to consider how form will serve your story. Do you want the musicality and memorability of meter and rhyme? Would a specific stanza form enhance a certain aspect of your narrative? Or does your story require the flexibility and emphasis on natural speech rhythms that free verse offers? Think about how the chosen form will shape the reader’s experience of your narrative.

3. How to Write a Narrative Poem: Outline, But Stay Flexible

Because narrative poems, especially longer ones, involve a sequence of events and character development, planning is helpful. Create an outline to map out the key plot points, character arcs, and thematic beats you want to hit. However, avoid overly rigid planning. The strength of poetry often lies in the unexpected discoveries made during the writing process—a surprising phrase, a powerful image, or a new direction suggested by the language itself. Know the major turning points and the intended ending, but allow room for spontaneity and exploration within that structure. Familiarity with how to write a story outline can provide a useful starting point, even if you ultimately diverge from it.

4. How to Write a Narrative Poem: Get to the Action (or the Core Feeling)

Unlike some prose forms that might build slowly with extensive exposition, poetry often thrives on immediacy. When starting your narrative poem, consider beginning close to a key piece of action, a pivotal moment, or the central emotional conflict. Let the events themselves reveal character, setting, and background information implicitly. Poetry has a unique capacity to quickly establish a character’s internal reality or the atmosphere of a scene through evocative language and specific details. Lean into the poetic strengths to build your world and introduce your story’s core, rather than relying on lengthy setup.

5. How to Write a Narrative Poem: Write About Minutiae

The most compelling narrative poem examples often utilize specific, concrete, and vivid imagery. Instead of broad descriptions, focus on minute details – the way light falls on a specific object, the sound of a particular hinge, the texture of worn fabric. This sensory detail grounds the reader in the story’s world and makes the characters and events feel real. Furthermore, concrete details can become surprising metaphors or potent symbols, adding layers of depth and complexity to your narrative while simultaneously advancing the plot or emotional trajectory. Focusing on minutiae creates a richer, more immersive reading experience.

6. How to Write a Narrative Poem: Use Repetition Strategically

In narrative poetry, which can be rich with language and detail, important ideas, images, or phrases might get lost. Strategic use of repetition can help reinforce key elements in the reader’s mind. Repeating words, phrases, or even structural patterns can draw attention to significant themes, character traits, or recurring motifs. Beyond reinforcement, repetition is also a powerful tool for adding musicality, rhythm, and emotional intensity to your poem. Devices like anaphora (repeating words at the beginning of lines) or refrains can create memorable patterns and highlight crucial aspects of the narrative or its underlying emotions.

7. How to Write a Narrative Poem: Give Yourself Time (and Permission to Revise)

Learning how to write a narrative poem is a challenging endeavor. Whether you’re aiming for a short ballad or a lengthy novel in verse, it requires considerable skill in both poetic craft and storytelling. Your first draft will likely be far from the finished product. Writing a narrative poem takes time, dedication, and extensive revision. Be patient with yourself. Embrace the iterative process of drafting, revising, and refining. Allow the language to guide you, and be willing to reshape the narrative as the poem develops. Leaning into the inherent beauty and sometimes mysterious process of writing poetry is key; let yourself be swept along by the language, knowing that revision is where the final story truly takes shape.

Write Moving Narrative Poems at Latrespace

What is a narrative poem? It is a form that offers immense possibilities for blending story and verse, demanding creativity and craft. Exploring narrative poem examples provides insight into this rich tradition. If you’re inspired to try your hand at writing compelling narrative poetry or want to delve deeper into the form through poetry with analysis, explore the resources and community at Latrespace.