Ballads
Narrative songs
Medieval Ballads
Medieval Period 1066-1485
Most common people could not read or write
Minstrels traveled singing these ballads (narratives) to entertain
Medieval Period 1066-1485
Narratives were about ordinary people
Because they were orally given many versions of the same story are told
DefinitionNarrative songs handed down in oral
tradition
From French word meaning “dance song”
CharacteristicsCharacteristics
◊ Simple and direct - stresses a single incident; begins in the midst of the incident
◊ Little or no background information
◊ Tells a story developed through dialogue
◊ Tells of dramatic events of ordinary people or legendary heroes
◊ Performed for an audience
TypesTypes◊ Folk Ballad - oldest type; composed by local bard
to remember important event ◊ Story most important ◊ Tone is tragic ◊ Ends in death by accident, murder, suicide, or
return of the dead ◊ Use of repetition - adds to melody, provides
emphasis, heightens emotional effect◊ Some well known traditional folk ballads include
“Lord Randall,” “The Three Ravens, and “Get up and Bar the Door.”
TypesTypes
◊ Minstrel Ballad ◊ Used themes of folk ballads and added
descriptions of settings and characters’ feelings
◊ Longer than folk ballad ◊ Less direct than folk ballad ◊ More literary than folk ballad◊ A well known minstrel ballad is “Sir Patrick
Spens/Spence.”
Ballad Headlines
THREE DEAD SONS VISIT MOTHER FOR DINNER
SLIGHTED WOMAN SPURNS LOVER’S DEATHBED REQUEST
Ballad Headlines
MAIDEN HEADED FOR GALLOWS; FAMILY REFUSES HELP
SubjectsSubjects
◊ Quarrels among family members or lovers or friends
◊ Death◊ War◊ Fear of the unknown◊ Lives of people◊ Adventures of outlaws ◊ Tragic love
Themes
Domestic tragedyFalse loveTrue loveAbsurdity of
husband/wife relations
Themes◊ The supernatural◊ Courage◊ Death◊ Revenge◊ Envy◊ Rebellion ◊ Betrayal◊ Remorse◊ Loyalty ◊ Patriotism
Medieval Period 1066-1485
Most of the ballads remained anonymous
Songs were not written down until the 18th century
Ballads
Typically focused on a single incident
Begins in the middle of the crisis
Proceeds directly to the resolution
Ballads
Not developed charactersNot developed backgroundNot developed description
Ballads - Subjects
Tragic loveDomestic ConflictCrimeWarShipwrecks
Ballads - Subjects
Comic treatmentsTragic treatments
How to read a ballad
Read silently looking at side notes
Paraphrase each stanzaRead aloud to hear the
sounds
Song CharacteristicsSong Characteristics
◊ Four-line stanzas◊ Rhyme in lines 2 and 4◊ Repetition of words, phrases, and lines◊ Refrains
The Refrain
Songs chorusProbable that the
singer of the ballad had the audience join in the refrain
The Refrain
RhythmThemeAllowed the singer to
improvise/remember the next verse
Assignment
Read both ballads – “Barbara Allan”– “Get Up and Bar the Door”
Assignment
Break up into groups
A ballad will be assigned to you
Assignment
Annotate the poems - determine meaning, theme, speakers, etc.
Create a newspaper headline – National Enquirer
Write a newspaper article
Assignment
Type article and headline
Share with class