The Narrative & Lyric Poem Types of Poetry The Narrative & Lyric Poem

Narrative vs. Lyric Poetry Definitions + Examples

Narrative Poetry Narrative poetry tells a story, a sequence of connected events. It propels characters through a plot. It is always told by a narrator.

In medias res In medias res is Latin for "in the middle of things." Narratives are not always told in sequence. Many stories start in medias res and jump about chronologically. (“In medias res” usually describes a narrative that begins somewhere in the middle of a story-- usually at some crucial point in the action.)

Famous Narrative Poems The following slides present excerpts from well-known narrative poems. If you want to read the entire text of the poem, copy and paste the website address into your browser. Enjoy and be inspired!

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. "'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door- Only this, and nothing more." Want more? Go to: http://www.bartleby.com/102/84.html

Paul Revere's Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Listen my children and you shall hear Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere, On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-five; Hardly a man is now alive Who remembers that famous day and year. He said to his friend, "If the British march By land or sea from the town to-night, Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch Of the North Church tower as a signal light,-- One if by land, and two if by sea; And I on the opposite shore will be, Ready to ride and spread the alarm Through every Middlesex village and farm, For the country folk to be up and to arm." Want more? Go to... http://poetry.eserver.org/paul-revere.html

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, 1798 Day after day, day after day, We stuck, nor breath nor motion; As idle as a painted ship Upon a painted ocean. Water, water, every where, And all the boards did shrink; Water, water, every where, Nor any drop to drink. The above is an excerpt – “In Medias Res” Want more? Go to: http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/stc/Coleridge/poems/Rime_Ancient_Mariner.html

"Because I could not stop for Death" By Emily Dickinson Because I could not stop for Death— He kindly stopped for me — The Carriage held but just Ourselves— And Immortality. We slowly drove — He knew no haste — ... The above is just an excerpt. Want more? Go to: http://www.bartleby.com/113/4027.html

Lyric Poetry A lyrical poem is a comparatively short, non-narrative poem in which a single speaker presents an idea, state of mind or an emotional state. Did you know... The term “lyric” comes from “lyre,” a musical instrument that accompanied ancient Greek poets?

Lyric poetry typically describes the poet's innermost feelings or candid observations and evokes a musical quality in its sounds and rhythms.

Famous Lyric Poems The following slides present excerpts from well-known lyric poems. If you want to read the entire text of the poem, copy and paste the website address into your browser. Enjoy and be inspired!

To an Athlete Dying Young by A.E. Housman To-day, the road all runners come, Shoulder-high we bring you home, And set you at your threshold down, Townsman of a stiller town. Smart lad, to slip betimes away From fields were glory does not stay And early though the laurel grows It withers quicker than the rose. The speaker says the boy is smart to “slip away” (die) young Because no one can be champion forever, it’s better to die while still on top than to grow old and be forgotten. These are only the 2nd and 3rd stanzas. To read the entire poem, go to: http://www.bartleby.com/103/32.html

“To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time” “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, Old Time is still a-flying; And this same flower that smiles today Tomorrow will be dying.” In the first lines of the lyrical poem “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time,” by mid-17th century English poet Robert Herrick, the speaker begins advising young people to take advantage of life while they still have their youth.    Want to read the rest of the poem? Go to: http://www.bartleby.com/101/248.html

Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?

One Inch Tall by Shel Silverstein If you were only one inch tall, you'd ride a worm to school. The teardrop of a crying ant would be your swimming pool. A crumb of cake would be a feast And last you seven days at least, A flea would be a frightening beast If you were one inch tall. This is only the first stanza. Want to read more? Go to: http://www.famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/shel_silverstein

Think about creating your own poem... Narrative? Lyric? End of presentation.