What is a narrative poem?

A narrative poem is a poem that tells a story. This type of poem is usually written in metered verse and makes use of the narrator and the characters voices. Types of narrative poems include epics, ballads and lays.

Long narrative poems often take the form of a novel that is set in verse. A romance is a long narrative poem that tells a story of chivalry, and they also may include tales from classic mythology. Shorter narrative poems are very similar in terms to that of a short story and are often placed together in interrelated groups or collections, such as the "Canterbury Tales."