The Ballad Tradition

Why did people sing ballads?

A ballad is a form of verse to be sung or recited. It’s usually a dramatic episode in simple narrative form.

Most of the English and Scottish ballads are from the 14th and 15th centuries.

Balladeers often represented today’s journalists.

Common topics included murder and revenge, tragic accidents and sudden disasters, heroic deeds and the quest for honor, jealous sweethearts and unrequited love.

Typical Ballad Plots

It dramatizes a single incident. The supernatural often plays an

important part. The incidents usually deal with

common people involved in actual events.

It usually offers some practical wisdom.

Ballad Structures Repetition is common. Transitions are abrupt. They possess a strong, simple beat

and uncomplicated rhyme. – Like aabb or abab

Ballads use a chorus or refrain for everyone to join in singing.

The ballad is brought to a close with a summary stanza.

Ballad Language

Slight attention is paid to characterization or description of characters.

Action is largely developed through dialogue with little clue as to who is speaking.

Tragic situations, sudden disasters, and accidental deaths are presented with plain language.

Although our taste in music and lyrics has changed over the years, the reasons we like songs are basically the same.

Think about how songs can tell stories, make things easy to remember, and just get people to have fun. Those are the ideas behind ballads.