Ballads Narrative songs

Medieval Ballads

Most common people could not read or write Medieval Period 1066-1485 Most common people could not read or write Minstrels traveled singing these ballads (narratives) to entertain

Narratives were about ordinary people Medieval Period 1066-1485 Narratives were about ordinary people Because they were orally given many versions of the same story are told

Definition Narrative songs handed down in oral tradition From French word meaning “dance song”

Characteristics ◊ 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

Types ◊ 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.”

Types ◊ 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

Subjects ◊ Quarrels among family members or lovers or friends ◊ Death ◊ War ◊ Fear of the unknown ◊ Lives of people ◊ Adventures of outlaws ◊ Tragic love

Themes Domestic tragedy False love True love Absurdity of husband/wife relations

Themes ◊ The supernatural ◊ Courage ◊ Death ◊ Revenge ◊ Envy ◊ Rebellion ◊ Betrayal ◊ Remorse ◊ Loyalty ◊ Patriotism

Most of the ballads remained anonymous 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 characters Not developed background Not developed description

Ballads - Subjects Tragic love Domestic Conflict Crime War Shipwrecks

Ballads - Subjects Comic treatments Tragic treatments

How to read a ballad Read silently looking at side notes Paraphrase each stanza Read aloud to hear the sounds

Song Characteristics ◊ Four-line stanzas ◊ Rhyme in lines 2 and 4 ◊ Repetition of words, phrases, and lines ◊ Refrains

The Refrain Songs chorus Probable that the singer of the ballad had the audience join in the refrain

The Refrain Rhythm Theme Allowed 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