What is a primary characteristic of narrative poetry?

The defining feature of narrative poetry is that it tells a story through verse, combining the elements of poetry and storytelling. This means that narrative poems have structured stanzas and lines but also convey a plot, characters, and a sequence of events just like a traditional story. The storytelling aspect sets narrative poetry apart from other forms of poetry, which might focus more on emotion, imagery, or other thematic elements without necessarily having a narrative arc.

While conveying a moral lesson may be a characteristic of some narrative poems, it is not a defining aspect of narrative poetry as a whole. Additionally, descriptive imagery is important in many types of poetry, but it does not specifically categorize works as narrative. Finally, while dialogue can be present in narrative poetry, it is not a primary characteristic; the essence lies in the storytelling component rather than the inclusion of dialogue. Thus, the correct answer captures the essence of what narrative poetry is fundamentally about.