BALLADS

1
BALLADS

• Originally derived from an Old French word
  meaning dancing song

2
FOLK BALLADS

• Author is of unknown origin
• Originally meant to be sung
• Of the common or illiterate people
• English-Scottish border

3
LITERARY BALLADS

• Known authors
• Studied imitation and replica of the folk ballad
• Tend to contain more elevated language and
  diction
• The intellectual or purposefully artful form

4
ELEMENTS OF A BALLAD

• Narrative poem
• Focus on a single, dramatic event
• Told impersonally through action and dialogue
• May start in the middle of the event
• Leaves out key parts
• Almost never in first person (but always
  exceptions)

5
ELEMENTS OF A BALLAD

• Quatrains (4-line stanzas)
• Second and fourth lines usually rhyme (abcb)
• Often first and third lines have 8 syllables and
  second and fourth have 6 syllables
• (not a hard and fast must have)
• Generally follow iambic pentameter
• Ballad Stanza rigidly adheres to the above
  traits.

6
ELEMENTS OF A BALLAD

• Refrain
• Repetition
• Line at end of stanza
• Entire repeated stanza
• Strong, simple beat

7
Refrain

• May be
• Incremental (most often) words slightly altered
  end of each stanza, help to advance the action
• Internal repeated lines within each stanza
• Terminal repeated after each stanza

8
ELEMENTS OF A BALLAD

• May find the use of any poetic device/figurative
  language to help establish effect
• Metaphor, rhyme, alliteration, rhythm, hyperbole,
  simile, etc.

9
BALLAD THEMES

• Usually relate to tragedy or violence
• Unhappy love affairs
• Domestic tragedy
• Family feuds
• Murder

• Popular Outlaws (Robin Hood)
• Historical Events
• Heroes

10
ELEMENTS OF A BALLAD v

• For each of the ballads you read you should
  compare it to the elements of a ballad.
• Does it contain all the elements listed?
  (identify each element and its effect)
• If not, where does it vary? Why might it have the
  variation? What effect/difference does it make?

11

• OLD TEXTBOOK
• Sir Patrick Spens (p. 105)
• The Twa Corbies (p. 110)

12
Sir Patrick Spens

• Historical ballad
• Warrior-Mariner Hero
• Beloved by all (except enemies!)

13
Sir Patrick Spens Questions

• What is the theme and how does it reflect the
  medieval ages?
• How does this ballad conform to the standards of
  a ballad?
• Where is there foreshadowing?

• Identify lines with incremental repetition.
• Is Sir Patrick Spens in a no win situation?
  Explain.
• Compare the language between the two versions.
  Identify five words whose spellings have changed.

14
The Twa Corbies Questions

• What view of human life and death does the ballad
  present? How is it a reflection of the time
  period?
• A ballad traditionally had no introduction. This
  ballad is an exception. What motive might its
  author have had?

• What effect would be lost if the incident were
  described by a human speaker rather than a
  conversation between two ravens?
• In an English version of the poem, a lady full
  of woe is discovers the body, buries him, and
  dies before evening. Which ending do you think
  youd prefer? Why?

15
Barbara Allan The Dead-Bell

• the passing bell the soul-bell the death
  bell
• Rung by clergy when a parishioner died
• Announcement and request for prayers
• Superstition kept away evil spirits

16
Barbara Allan Discuss

• The name Barbara Allan is repeated in nearly
  every quatrain. In what way does this repetition
  serve the song?

17
Sample Answer

• The name generally appears at the end of a line,
  where it rhymes with another word. The name
  Barbara Allan also contain internal repetition,
  which has the onomatopoetic effect of a bell. The
  repetition of the name has an incantatory quality
  which adds to the ballads feeling of doom and
  helps to build suspense.

18
Barbara Allan DEBATE

• Is Sir John Graeme spineless and gives up on
  Barbara Allan too easily? Yes or no? Why or why
  not?

19
Get Up and Bar the Door

• Many ballads and songs contain slant rhyme, or
  two words that sound similar but dont quite
  rhyme. What conclusions can be drawn about
  changes in the English language based on the
  slant rhymes of then/pan (lines 2,4) and
  black/spake (26, 28)?

20
Sample Answer

• Chances are that the words in at least some of
  the pairs both had the same vowel sounds hundreds
  of years ago, and did not become distinct,
  separate sounds until later.

21
Get Up and Bar the Door Satire

• Is this a satire? If so what does it satirize?
  What does it suggest about marriage?

22
After listening questions

• Are your reactions different after hearing the
  ballads? Explain.
• How important was characterization to the success
  of the ballads?
• Critique Which ballad told the most interesting
  story? Explain.

23
Robin Hood and the Three SquiresDiscussion
Agenda

1. Lines 1-72. Many songs contain a repeated line or
   lines with catchy nonsense words. Identify in the
   ballad. What purpose do these lines serve in this
   ballad?
2. Lines 73-116. Restate Robin Hoods greeting to
   the sheriff. How is his greeting verbal irony? Is
   the dramatic irony in the scene effective?
   Explain.
3. Explain the authors purpose in this ballad? Who
   is the intended audience?

• 4. What is the narrators tone toward Robin Hood?
  Toward the sheriff?
• 5. What does the ballad suggest about the social
  system of Robin Hoods day? What assumptions did
  the audience probably make about the sheriff and
  Robin Hood based on their knowledge of the social
  system?
• 6. What conclusions can you draw form the ballad
  about technology, poverty, religion and old age
  in medieval days?