Medieval Ballads

Oral Story Telling
Generation to Generation
Origins 13 - 15th Centuries
Written down later

Old French for
Dancing Song

Ballads:
began religious

became secular

Poetry of the People

PLOT:
Single Episode
Highly Dramatic Nature
Supernatural Involvement

THEMES:
Male-Female Relationships
Love (false, true)
Domestic Tragedies
Supernatural
Courage

STRUCTURE:
Refrains/Repetition
Transitions: Abrupt
Summary Stanza

NARRATION:
"Detached
Characterization"
We don't know much about characters

DIALOGUE:
develops action
few clues to who's speaking

LANGUAGE:
plain
simple

Lord Randall - Pg. 91

• What is the effect of the Q & A?
• Connection b/w dogs & Lord R?
• Who poisoned Lord R?
• What effect is created by refrain?

Edward, Edward - Pg. 92

• Why is Edward leaving?
• Is there a refrain?
• What effect does the refrain have?

Get Up and Bar the Door

• First 3 stanzas: 5Ws?
• Characterize the couple.
• What "tragic" elements are there?
• How does this ballad "play" with tragedy?

MODERN BALLADS

Frankie and Johnny - P. 95

• How is refrain used?
• What happened to Johnny?
• Conclusion? Agree/Disagree?

Hey Joe

Long Black Veil

Ballad of a Teenage Queen

Johnny Cash

Ballad of Birmingham

The Last Kiss

I'm Not the Man