Narrative Poem and Plot. A narrative poem is a verse that tells a story. A plot is a series of events related to a central conflict, or struggle. A plot usually involves the introduction of a conflict, its development, and its eventual resolution. As you read, identify in the poem the following elements of a plot: exposition, inciting incident, climax, resolution, and dénouement. If you need help in defining these terms, refer to the Handbook of Literary Terms. Fill in these elements of the plot on a plot pyramid like the one below. Remember that all the elements of the plot may not be revealed in exact chronological order.
Image, Imagery, and Free Verse. An image is language that creates a concrete representation of an object or an experience. An image is also the vivid mental picture created in the reader’s mind by that language. Taken together, the images in a poem or passage are called its imagery. Free verse is poetry that does not use regular rhyme, rhythm, meter, or division into stanzas. “The Highwayman” and “A short long story” are both narrative poems. However, “The Highwayman” makes use of regular rhyme, rhythm, meter, and division into stanzas, while “A short long story” avoids these techniques and is an example of free verse. As you read, think about what makes “A short long story” a poem.
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- In the poem you are about to read, a child’s mother died about a year before the action takes place. Immediately after a death, especially if it was unexpected, people typically cry, have trouble eating and sleeping, and may feel angry about being left by their loved one. People close to a person who has died may feel the effect of the death months or even years later. After a time, people not as close to the person who has died may offer less and less support and sympathy to those who are mourning. Consequently, those still mourning their loss may become depressed and feel very alone.
- Thanatology is a term for the study of death and mourning. Counselors who have worked with those who are grieving for the death of a loved one have identified a number of stages that the person who is mourning goes through. These stages are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
Describe a time when you were a young child and you imagined something that other people said wasn’t there.
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