Narrative Poems * Lesson 1

The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.

St. Augustine of Hippo

At first, art imitates life. Then life will imitate art. Then life will find its very existence from the arts.

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Narrative Poetry

is storytelling in a poetic form. It follows a specific structure and usually has a plot, characters, and a setting. The key characteristic of narrative poetry is its emphasis on the unfolding of a narrative or sequence of events. It can include elements of storytelling that are found in prose, such as dialogue and descriptions. Narrative poems can be about a wide range of subjects and themes, from mythological tales and historical events to personal experiences or fictional narratives.

Epic Poem

A long narrative poem about a supernatural or legendary hero's journey and deeds. Epic poems are often derived from oral tradition.

Odyssey (Homer)

The story of Odysseus, King of Ithaca, who wanders for ten years trying to get home after the Trojan War.

Aeneid (Virgil)

Incorporates various legends of Aeneas, making him the founder of Roman greatness.

Ballad

Written to be sung or recited in a melodic manner. It often has a simple and repetitive structure with an emphasis on storytelling and emotional impact.

The Rime of Ancient Mariner (Samuel Taylor Coleridge)

A man on a ship voyage whose one impulsive and heinous act changes the course of his life—and death.

The Highwayman (Alfred Noyes)

Focuses on the lives and deaths of a highwayman and his lover, Bess.

Romance

Focuses on idealized or chivalrous adventures. It often involves knights, damsels in distress, and quests for love or honour.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Describes how Sir Gawain accepts a challenge from a mysterious "Green Knight," who offers a return blow in a year and a day.

The Faerie Queene (Edmund Spenser)

An allegorical celebration of Elizabeth I's reign and a meditation on virtue, following knights who each represent a different virtue.

Hero or Heroine

The main character who goes on a journey and undergoes change.

Shadow

The villain or the main character's internal struggle.

Mentor

The wise old man or woman who gives assistance or encouragement.

Companion

The hero/heroine's friend or sidekick who goes with them on the adventure.

Trickster

A character who uses wits and humour and often provides comic relief.

Shapeshifter

A literal monster who can change shape or a character who appears to be the opposite of what they really are.

Man vs. Self

Involves internal struggles within a character's mind or emotions.

The Tell-Tale Heart (Edgar Allan Poe)

A character grapples with his guilt and deteriorating sanity.

Man vs. Man

An external conflict between characters (clashes of personalities, competition, disagreements, or direct confrontation).

Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare)

The two main characters deal with the problems of their feuding families.

Man vs. Society

A person or group faces opposition based on societal norms and beliefs.

The Hunger Games

A society randomly chooses tributes to take part in cruel games.

Man vs. Nature

A character struggles against the forces of nature or environment.

The Old Man and the Sea (Ernest Hemingway)

A man struggles with a giant fish out at sea.

Man vs. Supernatural

Involves confrontation with supernatural or paranormal forces.

Dracula (Bram Stoker)

People pit themselves against a bloodthirsty vampire.

Man vs. Technology

Tension between characters and machines or technological systems.

The Matrix (Wachowski Brothers)

Humans fight against a powerful computer program.

Man vs. Fate/Destiny

Characters try to defy or accept their predetermined fate.

Oedipus Rex (Sophocles)

Oedipus tries to escape his prophecy—killing his father and marrying his mother—but fails.

Binary Opposition

Highlights contrasting elements within a text to deepen thematic understanding.

Deictic

Words or phrases whose meaning depends on context (e.g., "this," "that," "here," "now").

Co-text

The words surrounding a particular word or phrase that help determine its meaning.

Collocation

The tendency of certain words to appear together frequently because they naturally "go together" (e.g., "break the ice," "strong coffee").

Epic of Gilgamesh

A long narrative poem and one of the earliest examples of an epic poem.

Gilgamesh

Initially a powerful but tyrannical ruler of Uruk who undergoes significant transformation.

Enkidu

A wild man created by the gods as Gilgamesh's closest equal and companion.

Utnapishtim

The only man granted immortality by the gods and the survivor of the Great Flood.

Urshanabi

The ferryman who navigates the Waters of Death.