The Medieval Period and Ballads

The Ballad and It’s Place in Medieval History What does a ballad do? The same as an epic: It tells a story. What themes do the stories represent? Real-life comedies and tragedies of real or fictitious persons How are ballads written? as songs, not written down before the 18 th century. Who sings them? Wandering minstrels, (most who remain anonymous). The mistrals are comparable to scops who sang the epic of Beowulf. Why were they popular to the common people in Scotland or England during the Medieval times? Because the main characters of these ballads were common folk like you and me who had everyday problems, unlike Beowulf.

What are some popular ballads? “Barbara Allan,” “Sir Patrick Spence,” and “Get up and Bar the Door.” Do we still have ballads? Yes, many country songs are ballads and even the rock and roll you listen to is frequently formatted as a ballad. Let’s listen to “Fancy” by Reba McEntire

Anglo Saxon Times Julius Caesar conquers the Gauls (Celtic people of Northern Europe) and the Britons (Celtic people of Briton). Also living there were Picts and Gaels in Ireland. These people were skilled farmers, metal workers and traders who also preserved their literature in books written by Druid priests. A legendary leader known as King Arthur might have fought off the Roman invasions. As we know from Beowulf, the Celts were driven to far reaches of Scotland and Ireland and Wales and the Germanic tribes organized and brought with them pagan beliefs in wyrd (fate) and also Christianity was brought earlier by the Romans.

the Medieval Period Viking invaders from the North of France called Normans enter England They bring their French language and culture. They bring feudalism – a system where barrons or knights swore allegiance to a king and in return got land. Serfs worked the land and were also protected against invaders by the knights. This was a time of cathedral building.

Squabbles The barons got into fights. William the Conqueror was a very famous king then. He died and his son Henry I came to power. Then Henry the II came to the throne and married Eleanor of Aquitaine. They established reform of judicial laws, established courts throughout the land and instituted the ways of French court and chivalry – a code of knightly behavior to protect ladies and to go on crusades to spread Christianity.

More fighting… Henry’s good son, Richard the Lion Hearted, was fighting in Crusades in the Middle East. The bad brother, John, stayed home and reigned corruption. Robin Hood (legendary) fought against John. The treasury was bankrupt, and John was forced to sign the Magna Carta to limit royal authority and to grant more power and land to the barons. Thus, the beginning of democracy and the house of Lords and Commons, the model for Briton’s Parliament. Stay tuned….