A narrative poem is INCREDIBLY easy, as you can tell by this one, just pick one moment in your life and just WRITE IT OUT!
Narrative Verse has Six Key Elements:
Topic: The subject matter must have a beginning, middle and end. Action is required. The simpler the action, the smaller the poem.
Theme: An undercurrent of meaning runs through the narrative poem. The narrative poem usually features scenes that also imply or foreshadow the theme. Any action within the narrative is there to illustrate the theme. If for example your theme centers around forgiveness, each scene must show or echo that feeling or indicate that a change associated with with feeling is imminent.
After you have identified the topic and theme, break the story into beginning, middle and end and identify how many scenes you will need to convey the theme. Then rank order those scenes so that they build to the ending.
Voice: The voice of a narrative should align with the subject matter. In addition you must decide the point of view from which the story will be told (eg. first person, third person limited).
If you have a significant role in the story chances are you will need to use a narrator. If you are telling the story secondhand, you may want to use a storyteller or someone who might have heard the tale or know the person(s) involved. Be careful not to slip into a factual voice that simply retells events. Make your storyteller filter events and the tone of the narrative voice reveal his/her unseen personality.
Viewpoint: Each person or character who could convey the drama or conflict in a narrative poem does so from a different viewpoint. Use the viewpoint to obtain the maximum impact but asking yourself, "From whose eyes is the story best depicted?"
If you can't decide which character best depicts the drama or conflict in a narrative, write a poem from each perspective and compare them.
Moment: Moment is not the ontological time of the event. It is the best possible point in time to relate events in a story. There are three possibilities: Now-- close to when the event happened so that the details and scenes are fresh and unravel as if we were there to see them; Now and Then--relatively close to when an event happened, so we have some perspective about the meaning of the details and scenes; Then--removed from when an event happened so our perspective is more important than the details or scenes of the story. If you tell a story from the now moment, you cannot comment on the events. When you tell a story from the now and then moment, you relate and comment on the events. When you tell a story from the then moment, you must comment or filter events and put them into perspective for the reader.
Endings: There are two types of endings you may use. The first, or open ending does not spell out or explain but illustrated with an image or scene that implies the ending. The second, or closed ending, concludes the narrative by wrapping up all loose ends.
Ask yourself if you want the reader to be left with a lingering presence, image or feeling or if you want them to feel a sense of satisfaction and resolution. An open ending must evoke emotions while a closed ending should satisfy the reader and allow him/her to feel closure. If your closed ending feels too pat or forced try an open ending. If your open ending seems too obscure, try a closed ending.
This one is famous (that is why I choose it) so don't attempt to pull it off as your own.
Cottontail
A couple of kids,
we went hunting for woodchucks
fifty years ago
in a farmer's field.
No woodchucks
but we cornered
a terrified
little cottontail rabbit
in the angle
of two stone fences.
He was sitting up,
Front paws together,
supplicating,
trembling
while we were deciding
whether to shoot him
or spare him.
I shot first
but missed,
thank god.
Then my friend fired
and killed him
and burst into tears.
I did too.
A little cottontail.
A Haunter.
-George Bogin (Janeczko 78)
2007-01-09 04:26:39
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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You want someone to do your homework for you?
Shame on you!
2007-01-09 12:23:22
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answer #2
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answered by sapphire_velvet 3
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3⤋