The Narrative Poem

Translating Grandfather’s House, by E. J. Vega

Narrative poem
Definition

• Narrative poetry is a type of poetry that tells a story (narrative).

• Its style is that of free verse = it is prose-like, it there is no rhyming.

• One common feature the narrative poem shares with poetry is that it consists
of stanzas and verse.
Narrative poem
Free verse example

• Note:

1. No rhyming

2. Divided up into stanzas

• How can this poem be

improved?

1. Introducing an effective event, such

as a sudden noise similar to gunshots being heard that break this tranquillity,

turn out to be twigs breaking under a running fox’s paws

2. By adding dialogue (the author speaks to a

fox and imagines it replying back to him)

Translating Grandfather’s House
Reading strategy

• It is always good to provide a summary of the poem after the first reading.

Remember: Summarizing a narrative poem and breaking it down into major

narrative stages help us understand that narrative poems are in fact short
stories.
Translating Grandfather’s House
Narrative features

• Read the poem again and pick out the features it shares with any other story
proper.
Translating Grandfather’s House
Simile

• Simile is a literary trope used to make comparisons. It usually uses

expressions such as … like …, or … as … as… .

• Simile and metaphor are similar but distinct. When omitting a comparative
expression, then the resultant trope is most likely a metaphor.

Her cheeks were like roses. ?

Her cheeks were roses. ?

Translating Grandfather’s House

Simile

• Simile is a literary trope used to make comparisons. It usually uses

expressions such as … like …, or … as … as… .

• Simile and metaphor are similar but distinct. When omitting a comparative
expression, then the resultant trope is most likely a metaphor.

Her cheeks were like roses. Simile

Her cheeks were roses. Metaphor

• Can you detect two instances of simile in the poem?

Translating Grandfather’s House
Simile

• Simile is a literary trope used to make comparisons. It usually uses expressions such
as … like …, or … (as) … as… .

• Can you detect three instances of simile in the poem?

1 Memories once certain as rivets

2 Become confused as awakenings

3 I draw one too, with wild grass

Rising from sidewalk cracks like widows.

Translating Grandfather’s House

Simile

• Simile is a literary trope used to make comparisons. It usually uses expressions such as … like …, or … (as)
… as… .

• Can you detect three instances of simile in the poem?

Similes Metaphors

1 Memories once certain as rivets Memories are rivets.

2 Become confused as awakenings Become confused awakenings

3 I draw one too, with wild grass I draw one too, with wild grass,

Rising from sidewalk cracks like widows. which are widows rising from sidewalk cracks.

Find the one instance of simile in the poem in slide 3.

Translating Grandfather’s House

Narrative features

• Read the poem again and pick out the features it shares with any other story proper.

1. Narrative style: first person singular (I) (Diary style writing: According to my sketch, I
protest); dialogue that is used alternately with exposition (“Ask my mom,” I protest.)

Remember: just like in any other story, dialogue is used to pace your writing up, and
gives it dynamism.

2. Narrative stages (narrative arc): beginning (the author draws up his childhood
house), middle part (he takes offence at his teacher’s dismissive comparison to a
Zorro film; redraws it to resemble his classmates’ houses but with an addition of
wildgrass; and names it GRANDFATHER’S HOUSE), ending (the teacher is pleased
and awards it the highest mark).
Write your own short narrative poem
Make sure that your narrative poem

• includes two to three stanzas

• is in free verse (no rhyming)

• incorporates both exposition and dialogue

• Can be easily summarised and retold, with a clear beginning, middle part and
ending.

• Is inspired on your drawing of your childhood memories of your home, or a

room. Tip: try to think of an event that took place at your home or in the room,
a fond memory. The drawing should be a kick starter of your creative process,
and should by no means be detailed or sophisticated.