Part 1: Forms of Poetry--Narrative

1. Narrative
Definition: A narrative poem has a plot and tells a story of some kind. They are of varying lengths from short narratives to book-length poems such as Homer’s Iliad. Consequently, the story the poem relates “may be simple or complex” (Meyer). Narrative poetry can include “ballads, epics, and lays” (Poetry).

Examples:

“The Walrus and the Carpenter” –Lewis Carroll

The sun was shining on the sea,
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright—
And this was off, because it was
The middle of the night.

The moon was shining sulkily,
Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done—
“It's very rude of him,” she said,
“To come and spoil the fun!”

The sea was wet as wet could be,
The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because
No cloud was in the sky;
No birds were flying overhead—
There were no birds to fly.

The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand;
“If this were only cleared away,”
They said, “it would be grand!”

“If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year,
Do you suppose,” the Walrus said,
“That they could get it clear?”
“I doubt it,” said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.

“O Oysters, come and walk with us!”
The Walrus did beseech.
“A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the briny beach;
We cannot do with more than four,
To give a hand to each.”

The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word he said;
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head—
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave the oyster bed.

But four young Oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat;
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat—
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn't any feet.

Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more—
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.

The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low;
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row.

“The time has come,” the Walrus said,
“To talk of many things:
Of shoes—and ships—and sealing-wax—
Of cabbages—and kings—
And why the sea is boiling hot—
And whether pigs have wings.”

“But wait a bit,” the Oysters cried,
“Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!”
“No hurry!” said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.

“A loaf of bread,” the Walrus said,
“Is what we chiefly need;
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed—
Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed.”

“But not on us!” the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
“After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!”
“The night is fine,” the Walrus said.
“Do you admire the view?

“It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!”
The Carpenter said nothing but,
“Cut us another slice.
I wish you were not quite so deaf—
I've had to ask you twice!”

“It seems a shame,” the Walrus said,
“To play them such a trick.
After we've brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!”
The Carpenter said nothing but,
“The butter's spread too thick!”

“I weep for you,” the Walrus said,
“I deeply sympathize.”
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.

“O Oysters,” said the Carpenter,
“You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?”
But answer came there none—
And this was scarcely odd, because
They'd eaten every one.


“The Demon Lover” –Unknown

“Oh, where have you been, my long, long love,
This long seven years and more?”
“Oh, I’ve come to seek my former vows
Ye granted me before.”

“Oh, do not speak of your former vows,
For they will breed sad strife;
Oh, do not speak of your former vows,
For I have become a wife.”

He turned him right and round about,
And the tear blinded his ee:
“I would never have trodden on this ground
If it had not been for thee.”

“If I was to leave my husband dear,
And my two babes also,
Oh, what have you to take me to,
If with you I should go?”

“I have seven ships upon the sea—
The eighth brought me to land—
With four-and-twenty bold mariners,
And music on every hand.”

She has taken up her two little babes,
Kissed them of cheek and chin:
“Oh, fare ye well, my own two babes,
For I’ll never see you again.”

She set her foot upon the ship—
No mariners could she behold;
But the sails were of the taffeta,
And the masts of the beaten gold.

She had not sailed a league, a league,
A league but barely three,
When dismal grew his countenance,
And drumlie grew his ee.

They had not sailed a league, a league,
A league but barely three,
Until she espied his cloven foot,
And she wept right bitterly.

“Oh, hold your tongue of your weeping,” said he,
“Of your weeping now let me be;
I will show you how the lilies grow
On the banks of Italy.”

“Oh, what hills are yon, yon pleasant hills,
That the sun shines sweetly on?”
“Oh, yon are the hills of heaven,” he said,
“Where you will never win.”

“Oh, whaten a mountain in yon,” she said,
“So dreary with frost and snow?”
“Oh, yon is the mountain of hell,” he cried,
“Where you and I will go.”

He struck the top-mast with his hand,
The fore-mast with his knee;
And he broke that gallant ship in twain,
And sank her in the sea.


“I Sailed on Half a Ship” –Jack Prelutsky

I sailed on half a ship
on half the seven seas,
propelled by half a sail
that blew in half a breeze.
I climbed up half a mast
and sighted half a whale
that rose on half a mighty wave
and flourished half a tail.

Each day, with half a hook
and half a rod and reel,
I landed half a fish
that served as half a meal.
I ate off half a plate,
I drank from half a glass,
then mopped up half the starboard deck
and polished half the brass.

When half a year had passed,
as told by half a clock,
I entered half a port
and berthed at half a dock.
Since half my aunts were there
and half my uncles too,
I told them half this half-baked tale
that’s half entirely true.



Works Cited

Darigan, Daniel L., Michael O. Tunnell, and James S. Jacobs. Children’s Literature: Engaging Teachers and Children in Good Books. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, 2002.

“Narrative Poem.” Meyer Literature: Glossary of Literary Terms. 2 November 2009. http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/literature/bedlit/glossary_l.htm

“Narrative Poetry.” Types of Poetry. 2 November 2009. http://www.types-of-poetry.org.uk/33-narrative-poetry.htm

Poems

Carroll, Lewis. “The Walrus and the Carpenter.” Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Great Neck, NY: Choice Publishing, Inc., 1989.

Prelutsky, Jack. “I Sailed on Half a Ship.” A Pizza the Size of the Sun. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books, 1996.

“The Demon Lover.” Rose, Where Did You Get That Red?: Teaching Great Poetry to Children. Kenneth Koch. New York: Vintage Books, 1990. 187.