EN 1105 Handout 2 [Ballad]

Ballad

The word ballad derived from the Italian word ballare which means “to dance” Ballad is a poetic form of
great antiquity.

Basic characteristics of ballads:

1. The beginning is often abrupt

2. The language is simple

3. The story is told through dialogue and action

4. The theme is tragic

5. There is often a refrain

6. Many ballads employ set formulas such as

•  stock descriptive phrases like “ milk –white- steed” and “blood –red- wine” 
•  refrain
•  Incremental repetition in which a line or stanza is repeated.

The most common stanza form is called as the ballad stanza: a quatrain (4 line stanza) and the 2nd and 3rd lines rhyme and this form the refrain. The refrain does not contain any information or idea but they are there for a musical effect.

Ballads are divided into two types.

1. Folk/ traditional / Primitive ballads

2. Literal / modern ballads

Traditional ballad is anonymous and is transmitted from singer to singer by word of mouth. It thus belongs to oral tradition. In this manner ballads have been passed down from generation to generation over centuries. Thus it is apt to introduce changes in both the text and tune. Typically the popular ballad is dramatic and impersonal. The themes are based on the elementary aspects of life. Large space is given to tales of adventure and love, fight and valor. Generally supernaturalism is an essential element of it. Most traditional ballads have a sudden and abrupt beginning as in the famous ballads ‘Sir Patrick Spens’ and “The wife of Usher’s well’

Modern/ Literal Ballad is generally written by a learned poet in conscious and sophisticated imitation of the traditional ballad. Many of the conventional features like the stanza form are retained in the literary ballad. Some greatest literary ballads were written during the period of romantic revival. The most well-known among them is Coleridge’s “Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ in which the ballad metre is used. Keat’s famous ballad ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’ represents a variation on the traditional ballad stanza.

Mock Ballad is a minor form of literary ballad in which a comic theme is treated with the seriousness appropriate to a regular ballad. It follows the ballad conventions in all respects expect in the choice of theme. Cowper’s ‘John Gilpin’ is a fine example of a mock ballad. William Maginn’s “The Rime of the ancient Waggoner”.

Broadside ballad is printed on one side of a single sheet (called broadside) dealing with a current event or issue, and sung to a well- known tune. Beginning with the sixteen century, these broadsides were hawked in the streets or at country fairs in Great Britain.