What are the characteristics of famous poems that tell a story?

Well, they often have vivid imagery. For example, in 'The Road Not Taken' by Robert Frost, the two roads in the woods are clearly described, which helps tell the story of the speaker's choice. Another characteristic is a strong sense of emotion. In short story - telling poems, the poet's feelings like regret, hope or confusion are usually palpable. In 'Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night' by Dylan Thomas, the passion of the speaker urging his father to fight against death is very strong.

One characteristic is a clear narrative arc. Just like in a short story or a novel, there is a beginning, middle, and end. For example, in 'The Highwayman', it starts with introducing the highwayman and his love for Bess, then there's the conflict when the redcoats come, and finally the tragic end. Another characteristic is the use of vivid imagery to bring the story to life. In 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner', the descriptions of the sea, the ice, and the strange creatures make the story more engaging. Also, there is often a central character or characters that the story revolves around.

Well, these poems usually have a plot. Just like in a short story, there is a problem or conflict. In 'Casey at the Bat', the conflict is Casey's need to hit the ball to win the game. They also tend to have a narrative arc. Starting from an introduction, like in 'Paul Revere's Ride' where we are introduced to Paul Revere, then rising action such as his ride through the night, a climax when he warns the people, and a resolution. Moreover, the language is often descriptive to bring the story to life, for instance, the vivid descriptions in 'Goblin Market' of the goblin fruits.

These poems may also rely on the power of suggestion. Instead of telling a story, they give hints and let the reader's imagination fill in the blanks. For example, a poem might describe a strange object and leave it up to the reader to decide what it means or what it might be related to, rather than spelling out a story.

Often, they use a lot of gloomy or dark imagery. For example, in 'The Raven' by Edgar Allan Poe, the raven itself is a symbol of death and doom, adding to the overall sad atmosphere of the poem. The language is usually solemn and may have a slow rhythm, like a dirge.

Well, they often have a strong sense of melancholy. For example, in 'Because I could not stop for Death' by Emily Dickinson, the story of the journey with Death has a sad undertone throughout. They also tend to use vivid imagery to convey the sadness. In these poems, the plot usually involves loss, like the loss of a loved one or the loss of a way of life.

They often have unexpected twists. For example, in a story - telling funny poem, the hero might not do what you expect, like instead of slaying the dragon in a heroic way, he befriends it in a really silly way. This surprise makes it funny.

These poems tend to have a certain rhythm and meter that helps in the narration. The rhyme scheme can also add to the mood of the story. For example, the rhyming in 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' gives it an almost chant - like quality that makes the story more engaging and easier to remember as it unfolds.

One characteristic is a complex plot. Since they are long, they can develop a story with many twists and turns, like in 'The Odyssey' where Odysseus faces numerous challenges on his journey home. Another is the use of vivid characters. These poems often have well - developed characters that drive the story forward. For example, Beowulf in 'Beowulf' is a very strong and heroic character. Also, they usually have a strong sense of setting. In 'The Divine Comedy', Dante describes the different levels of Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven in great detail, which helps to set the mood and context of the story.

Long poems that tell a story often have complex characters. Since they have more space to develop, the characters can be multi - dimensional. For example, in 'The Divine Comedy', Dante encounters various figures in Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise, each with their own backstories and personalities. Another characteristic is the elaborate plot. These poems can cover a wide range of events and time periods, like in 'The Odyssey' which spans Odysseus' many years of wandering.