The Popular Ballads of the Fifteenth Century

The Last Period of Middle English (1) Early Middle English, from about 1100 to about 1250, during which the Old English system of writing was still in use; [-->The Norman Period( )] (1) Early Middle English, from about 1100 to about 1250, during which the Old English system of writing was still in use; [-->The Norman Period( )] (2) the Central Middle English period from about 1250 to about 1400, which was marked by the gradual formation of literary dialects, the use of an orthography greatly influenced by the Anglo-Norman writing system, the loss of pronunciation of final unaccented -e, and the borrowing of large numbers of Anglo-Norman words; the period was especially marked by the rise of the London dialect, in the hands of such writers as John Gower and Geoffrey Chaucer; [-->The Age of Chaucer( )] and (2) the Central Middle English period from about 1250 to about 1400, which was marked by the gradual formation of literary dialects, the use of an orthography greatly influenced by the Anglo-Norman writing system, the loss of pronunciation of final unaccented -e, and the borrowing of large numbers of Anglo-Norman words; the period was especially marked by the rise of the London dialect, in the hands of such writers as John Gower and Geoffrey Chaucer; [-->The Age of Chaucer( )] and (3) Late Middle English, from about 1400 to about 1500, which was marked by the spread of the London literary dialect and the gradual cleavage between the Scottish dialect and the other northern dialects. [-->The 15th Century( )] (--Encyclopedia Britannica) (3) Late Middle English, from about 1400 to about 1500, which was marked by the spread of the London literary dialect and the gradual cleavage between the Scottish dialect and the other northern dialects. [-->The 15th Century( )] (--Encyclopedia Britannica)

Middle Ages the period in European history from the collapse of Roman civilization in the 5th century AD to the period of the Renaissance. the period in European history from the collapse of Roman civilization in the 5th century AD to the period of the Renaissance.

What ’ s Popular in this Period? Romance Romance Heroic couplet Heroic couplet Popular ballads Popular ballads

Historical Background The End of the Hundred Years ’ War The End of the Hundred Years ’ War The War of the Roses and the Tudor Dynasty The War of the Roses and the Tudor DynastyTudor DynastyTudor Dynasty The Establishment of the Anglican Church The Establishment of the Anglican Church The Establishment of the Anglican Church The Establishment of the Anglican Church The Dying of Chivalry Spirit The Dying of Chivalry Spirit (Sir Thomas Malory ’ s Le Morte d ’ Arthur) The Tudor rose - uniting the white rose of York and the red rose of Lancaster The Tudor rose - uniting the white rose of York and the red rose of Lancaster We will unite the white rose and the red: Smile heaven upon this fair conjunction, That long have frown'd upon their enmity! What traitor hears me, and says not amen? England hath long been mad, and scarr'd herself; (Shakespeare, Richard III, 5.5)

The Tudor Dynasty Henry VII (reigned 1485 – 1509); Henry VII (reigned 1485 – 1509); Henry VIII (1509 – 47); Henry VIII (1509 – 47); Edward VI (1547 – 53); Edward VI (1547 – 53); Mary I (1553 – 58); Mary I (1553 – 58); Elizabeth I (1558 – 1603) Elizabeth I (1558 – 1603) Henry VII, painting by an unknown artist, 1505; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.

The Establishment of the Anglican Church in 1534 Henry VIII, oil on panel by the studio of Hans Holbein the Younger, after 1537; in the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, England. Catherine of Aragon, detail of an oil painting by an unknown artist; in the National Portrait Gallery, London Anne Boleyn, drawing by Hans Holbein the Younger, c – 35; in the British Museum

The Tudors 16th century woodcut of the coronation of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon shows them with their badges, the Tudor rose and the pomegranate. 16th century woodcut of the coronation of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon shows them with their badges, the Tudor rose and the pomegranate. The Showtime TV series the Tudors dramatizes once again the story of Henry VIII, after several Hollywood movies, such as The Other Boleyn Girl. You can also resort to the BBC documentary A History Of Britain e6 Burning convictions for more faithful account of Henry VIII.

Ballads in the 15th Century What is a ballad? What is a ballad? What are the characteristics of the 15th- century ballads? What are the characteristics of the 15th- century ballads? What are the subject matters concerned in those ballads? What are the subject matters concerned in those ballads?

A Ballad is a narrative poem that tells a story. A Ballad is a narrative poem that tells a story. Characteristics: Characteristics: The beginning is often abrupt; The beginning is often abrupt; There are strong dramatic elements; There are strong dramatic elements; The story is often told through dialogue and action; The story is often told through dialogue and action; The theme is often tragic, though there are a number of comic ballads; The theme is often tragic, though there are a number of comic ballads; The ballad meter is used; The ballad meter is used;ballad meter ballad meter Various subject matters, e.g. the Robin Hood Ballads. Various subject matters, e.g. the Robin Hood Ballads.

The Ballad Stanza There are twelve months in all the year, × × | / / | × / | × / | A × × | / / | × / | × / | A As I hear many men say, × / | / /| / / | B But the merriest month in all the year × × /| × / | × / |× / | A × × /| × / | × / |× / | A Is the merry month of May. × × / | × / | × / | B

The Popular Ballads The Three Ravens The Three Ravens Sir Patrick Spens Robin Hood and the Three Squires ThemeTheme ImageryImageryImagery Metrical schemesMetrical schemes RefrainRefrain LanguageLanguage

The Three Ravens - Andreas Scholl Traditional English song, written in Early English, from Thomas Ravenscroft's collection, published in 1611 "There were three Ravens sat on a tree, Downe a downe, hey downe, hey downe. They were as blacke as blacke could be-with a downe Then one of them said to his mate, Where shall we our breakefast take? with a downe derrie, derry, derry, downe, downe Downe in yonder greene field, downe a downe... There lies a Knight slain under his shield-with a downe... His hounds they lie downe at his feete So well do they their Master keepe-with a downe... His Hawkes they flie so eagerly, downe a downe... There's no fowle that dare him come nie. with a downe... Downe there comes a fallow Doe, As great with yong as she might go-with a downe... She lifted up his bloody head, downe a downe... And kiss'd his wounds that were so red. with a downe.. She got him up upon her backe And carried him to earthen lake. with a downe... She buried him before the prime, downe a downe... She was dead her selfe ere even song time - with a downe... God sent every gentleman, Such hawkes, such hounds, and such a leman. with a downe …”

Imagery Imagery as a general term covers the use of language to represent objects, actions, feelings, thoughts, ideas, states of mind and any sensory or extra-sensory experience. – Cuddon, J.A., A Dictionary of Literary Terms, p.316 Imagery as a general term covers the use of language to represent objects, actions, feelings, thoughts, ideas, states of mind and any sensory or extra-sensory experience. – Cuddon, J.A., A Dictionary of Literary Terms, p.316

Assignments Translate The Three Ravens into Chinese. Try to maintain its rhythm and rhyme. Translate The Three Ravens into Chinese. Try to maintain its rhythm and rhyme. Read from p. 63 to p. 78. Read from p. 63 to p. 78. Search online or in the library to get some impression about the development of English drama. Search online or in the library to get some impression about the development of English drama.