Question

Which of these excerpts is most clearly an example of narrative poetry?

A. "One shade the more, one ray the less/Had half impaired the nameless grace..."
B. "Who can contemplate fame through clouds unfold/The star which rises..."
C. "And all that's best of dark and bright/Meet in her aspects and her eyes..."
D. "And 'mid this tumult Kubla heard from far/Ancestral voices..."

I am thinking it is C but I am not sure.

Answer 1

The correct answer is D. "And 'mid this tumult Kubla heard from far/Ancestral voices..."

Narrative poetry is telling us a story - it is full of narration, events, and something is going on. Unlike lyrical poetry, which is more about opinions, descriptions, and feelings, narrative poetry is more about something actually happening. Examples A, B, and C are all lyrical poetry, whereas D is narrative.

Answer 2

As for me, the best example of narrative poetry is definitely D. "And 'mid this tumult Kubla heard from far/Ancestral voices...". It cannot be the third option that you choose because it's from 'She walks in beauty' which is a lyric poetry. I think you will agree with me.