what is a narrative poem

A narrative poem is a form of poetry that tells a story using poetic elements such as form, meter, rhyme, and poetic devices. It is a longer form of poetry that contains a beginning, middle, and end, and features plot, setting, and characters. Narrative poems can be short or long, and the story they relate to may be complex. They may include all epic poetry, various types of "lay," most ballads, and some idylls, as well as many poems not falling into a distinct type. The narrator of a narrative poem is typically not the author, but rather a character in the story who narrates what takes place. Narrative poems may have specific rhyme schemes and metrical patterns, but there is no universal pattern that poets must follow. Examples of narrative poems include Beowulf, The Iliad, and The Odyssey.