BalladsBallads

Ballads are songs Ballads are songs or song like poems or song like poems that tell stories in that tell stories in simple, rhythmic simple, rhythmic

language.language.

Even in Middle Ages people Even in Middle Ages people need entertainment…….need entertainment…….

Ballads were the poetry of the people, just like our songs are today.

Ballads tell about what is happening during the time they are written

Certain predictable features of a Certain predictable features of a Ballad Ballad

Sensational, sordid, or Sensational, sordid, or tragic subject matter.tragic subject matter.

Supernatural eventsSupernatural eventsA refrainA refrainOmission of detailsOmission of details

Refrain- a Refrain- a repeated word, repeated word, line or group of line or group of

lineslines

““Ballad” is derived Ballad” is derived from an old French from an old French

word meaningword meaning ‘dancing song’ ‘dancing song’

Conventions of a Ballad Conventions of a Ballad SingerSinger

Incremental repetitionIncremental repetitionA Question and Answer A Question and Answer

formatformatConventional phrasesConventional phrasesA strong, simple beatA strong, simple beat

METERMETER

Meter Meter is the rhythm of a is the rhythm of a ballad. It describes where ballad. It describes where the emphasis is placed--the emphasis is placed--what words are what words are emphasized, and what emphasized, and what words aren't.words aren't.

METERMETER

Here's an example of the 4-3-4-3 Here's an example of the 4-3-4-3 meter. Try speaking the verse out meter. Try speaking the verse out loud: loud:

HaudHaud your your tonguetongue, ye , ye auldauld fac'd fac'd knightknight,,

Some Some illill death death maymay ye ye dee!dee!

FathFather my er my bairnbairn on on whomwhom I I willwill,,

I'll I'll fathfather er nanenane on on theethee..

Here's an example of the 4-4-4-4 Here's an example of the 4-4-4-4 meter, where all lines have four meter, where all lines have four

emphasized words: emphasized words:

I I amam a a manman u uponpon the the landland

I I amam a a silsilkie kie onon the the seasea

and and whenwhen I'm I'm farfar and and farfar frae frae landland

my my homehome it it isis in in SuleSule Sker Skerryry..

If you can't figure out what meter a If you can't figure out what meter a ballad is in, try speaking it out loud and ballad is in, try speaking it out loud and listening to the rhythm of your speech. listening to the rhythm of your speech.

IS PERFECT METER IS PERFECT METER IMPORTANT?IMPORTANT?

No, perfect meter  isn't No, perfect meter  isn't essential; what is important essential; what is important is that the meter work with is that the meter work with the music. Many ballads the music. Many ballads which sound rather awkward which sound rather awkward when they're spoken sound when they're spoken sound beautiful when set to their beautiful when set to their proper tunesproper tunes

RHYMERHYME

Most ballads use one of three Most ballads use one of three different types of rhyme: different types of rhyme: abac, aabb, abac, aabb, or or abcbabcb. .

The first type of rhyme, The first type of rhyme, abacabac, is found in , is found in ballads that include a chorus in the ballads that include a chorus in the verse: the first and third lines of each verse: the first and third lines of each verse rhyme, while the second and fourth verse rhyme, while the second and fourth lines, the chorus, are the same in every lines, the chorus, are the same in every verse. verse.

EXAMPLE OF ABAC RHYMEEXAMPLE OF ABAC RHYMEShe went down below the She went down below the thornthorn

Fine Flowers in the Fine Flowers in the ValleyValley

And there has she her sweet babe And there has she her sweet babe bornborn

And the green leaves they grow And the green leaves they grow rarelyrarely

  

She's ta'en out her little She's ta'en out her little penknifepenknife

Fine flowers in the Fine flowers in the valleyvalley

  

And there she's twinned her sweet babe of And there she's twinned her sweet babe of it's it's lifelife

And the green leaves they grow And the green leaves they grow rarelyrarely

AABB RHYMEAABB RHYME

As I was walking al As I was walking al alanealane

I saw twa corbies makin' I saw twa corbies makin' manemane

the tane untae the tither did the tane untae the tither did saysay

where shall we gang and dine the where shall we gang and dine the day?day?

In the second type, In the second type, aabbaabb, the first and , the first and second lines rhyme with each other, second lines rhyme with each other, as do the third and the fourth lines.as do the third and the fourth lines.

ABCB RHYMEABCB RHYME

The third type of rhyme, The third type of rhyme, abcbabcb, is the most common , is the most common type of rhyme found in type of rhyme found in Child's ballads. In this Child's ballads. In this rhyme scheme, only the rhyme scheme, only the second and fourth lines second and fourth lines rhyme: rhyme:

ABCB RHYME EXAMPLEABCB RHYME EXAMPLE

Her breath was strang, her hair was Her breath was strang, her hair was langlang

And twisted twice about the And twisted twice about the treetree

And with a swing she came And with a swing she came aboutabout

"Come to Craigy's sea and kiss with "Come to Craigy's sea and kiss with meme""

This type of rhyme is the easiest; there's This type of rhyme is the easiest; there's only one pair of matching words to only one pair of matching words to worry about per verse rather than two, worry about per verse rather than two, which gives you more freedom in which gives you more freedom in writing the verse content.   writing the verse content.  

RepetitionRepetition

The oldest type of repetition is the The oldest type of repetition is the repetition of entire verses, with only repetition of entire verses, with only slight changes made to each one. slight changes made to each one.

Another common type of repetition Another common type of repetition used in ballads is "question/answer" used in ballads is "question/answer" repetition. repetition.

BurdensBurdens, or choruses used in each , or choruses used in each verse, are a third common type of verse, are a third common type of repetitionrepetition

BURDENSBURDENS

With burdens, the first and With burdens, the first and third lines of a verse third lines of a verse rhyme, while the second rhyme, while the second and fourth lines are the and fourth lines are the same for all verses: same for all verses:

There were twa sisters sat in a bow'rThere were twa sisters sat in a bow'r

Binnorie, O BinnorieBinnorie, O Binnorie

There cam a knight to be their wooer.There cam a knight to be their wooer.

By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.

  

He courted the eldest wi' glove and ringHe courted the eldest wi' glove and ring

Binnorie, O BinnorieBinnorie, O Binnorie

But he lo'ed the youngest aboon a'thing.But he lo'ed the youngest aboon a'thing.

By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.

STRUCTURESTRUCTURE

Most of the ballads that have Most of the ballads that have survived to the present day survived to the present day can be divided into verses of can be divided into verses of four lines. This number can four lines. This number can vary--sometimes a 6 or 8 vary--sometimes a 6 or 8 line verse is inserted into line verse is inserted into the ballad (Tam Lin). the ballad (Tam Lin).

STRUCTURESTRUCTURE

The use of traditional motifs and The use of traditional motifs and phrases was heavily relied upon to phrases was heavily relied upon to "flesh out" a ballad story. "flesh out" a ballad story.

the singer had a number of stock the singer had a number of stock phrases--"grassy green", "milk-white phrases--"grassy green", "milk-white steed", "massy gold", "maiden fair", steed", "massy gold", "maiden fair", "and an angry man was he," "silk so "and an angry man was he," "silk so fine", to name but a few--to use fine", to name but a few--to use when singing a ballad. when singing a ballad.

DIALOGUEDIALOGUE

BALLADS CONTAIN A LOT OF DIALOGUEBALLADS CONTAIN A LOT OF DIALOGUE

Action is often described in the first Action is often described in the first person: "As I was walking all alane..."; person: "As I was walking all alane..."; "Oh where have ye been, my dearest "Oh where have ye been, my dearest dear"; “Why does your brand sae drip wi' dear"; “Why does your brand sae drip wi' bluid", etc. Even in ballads told from a bluid", etc. Even in ballads told from a more impersonal third person point of more impersonal third person point of view, dialogue is always included, view, dialogue is always included, usually between the two main usually between the two main characters. characters.

PERVASIVE USE OF THREESPERVASIVE USE OF THREES

In Kempowyne, the main character has In Kempowyne, the main character has to win three kisses from Dove Isabel. to win three kisses from Dove Isabel.

In Edward, the mother asks her son In Edward, the mother asks her son three times why his sword is so three times why his sword is so bloody, and after Edward states his bloody, and after Edward states his intention to go into exile, she asks him intention to go into exile, she asks him what he intends to (1.) Do with his what he intends to (1.) Do with his property, (2.) Leave to his children property, (2.) Leave to his children and wife, and (3.) Leave to his mother. and wife, and (3.) Leave to his mother.

LORD RANDALL PG 130LORD RANDALL PG 130

1.1. Typical of ballads, Lord Randall Typical of ballads, Lord Randall omits details. What elements of the omits details. What elements of the plot are omitted and what do you plot are omitted and what do you think the answers should be?think the answers should be?

2.2. Give me an example of incremental Give me an example of incremental repetition from Lord Randallrepetition from Lord Randall

3.3. Do you think this ballad glorifies Do you think this ballad glorifies violence? Explain your answerviolence? Explain your answer

Get up and Bar the Door Get up and Bar the Door pg132pg132

1.1. As you read the ballad, did you find As you read the ballad, did you find yourself siding with either the yourself siding with either the husband or the wife? Who? Why?husband or the wife? Who? Why?

2.2. How is the possibility of violence How is the possibility of violence combined with ironic humor in this combined with ironic humor in this ballad?ballad?

3.3. Can you name any other ballad that is Can you name any other ballad that is a “battle of the sexes” from the a “battle of the sexes” from the modern day? If so, what is it?modern day? If so, what is it?

Edward,Edward pg. 226Edward,Edward pg. 226

1.1. What questions are unanswered in What questions are unanswered in this ballad?this ballad?

2.2. At what point does the ballad reach a At what point does the ballad reach a climax?climax?

3.3. What are the possible implications of What are the possible implications of Edward’s last response to his mother Edward’s last response to his mother in the final stanza?in the final stanza?

4.4. What structure does this ballad take?What structure does this ballad take?

Pages 262-267Pages 262-267

COMPLETE THE READING OF THE TWO COMPLETE THE READING OF THE TWO BALLADS ON 262-263.BALLADS ON 262-263.

THEN, ANSWER THE QUESTIONS 1-10 THEN, ANSWER THE QUESTIONS 1-10 ON PAGES 264-265 AND TURN IN ON PAGES 264-265 AND TURN IN FOR A GRADE.FOR A GRADE.