1. Eagles - Hotel California (Lyrics) - YouTube
Medieval Ballads
Eagles - Hotel California (Lyrics) - YouTube

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

3. 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
◊ A well known traditional folk ballad:
“Lord Randall”

4. 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:
“Sir Patrick Spens/Spence.”

5. 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

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

7. Themes ◊ Love - unrequited, true and lasting, importance
◊ Courage – importance of, consequences of lack of
◊ Death – reasons for, effects of
◊ Revenge – necessity of, results of
◊ Envy – and how it affects individuals
◊ Rebellion – punishments for, results of
◊ Betrayal – results of, reasons for
◊ Remorse – reasons for, results of
◊ Loyalty – importance of, rewards for
◊ Patriotism - importance of, rewards for

8. Song Characteristics ◊ Four-line stanzas
◊ Rhyme in lines 2 and 4 (ABCB)
◊ Repetition of words, phrases, and lines
◊ Refrains

9. For the following ballad:
Read the ballad through one time for comprehension.
Read the ballad through again. Summarize the action in each stanza.
Identify: rhyme scheme (2/4 stanzas), repetition, subject(s) addressed, and overall theme

10. Bonny Barbara Allen
1. In fall around Nov 11 when the Church celebrates St. Martin, Sir John Graeme fell in love with Barbara Allen. 2. He sent his men to find her and bring her to him at home. 3. She slowly rose up and went to him, and said, “I think you’re dying.”
It was in and about the Martinmas time,  A When the green leaves were a-falling,  B That Sir John Graeme, in the West country, C Fell in love with Barbara Allen.  B
He sent his men down through the town  A To the place where she was dwelling:  B "O haste and come to my master dear,  C Gin ye be Barbara Allen."  B
O hooly, hooly rose she up,  A To the place where he was lying,  B And when she drew the curtain by'  C "Young man, I think you're dying."  B

11. ___________________________________________________
"O it's I'm sick, and very, very sick,  And it's a' for Barbara Allen;"  "O the better for me you shall never be,  Though your heart's blood were a spilling.”
"O dinna ye mind, young man," she said,  "When the red wine ye were filling,  That ye made the healths gae round and round, And slighted Barbara Allen?”
He turned his face unto the wall,  And death was with him dealing;  "Adieu, adieu, my dear friends all,  And be kind to Barbara Allen." 
4. Sir John agreed and said it was for love of her. She replied that he would never be better for her sake. 5. She reminds him of a time when he toasted all the women except her and suggests that is why he’s dying. 6. He resigns himself to death, warning his friends to be nice to Barbara…or else!
___________________________________________________
The subject of the ballad is a quarrel between lovers, and also
a death. The overall theme combines love, betrayal, and revenge –
Did Barbara have anything to do with Sir John’s sickness because
she felt he slighted her?

12. For the ballads in text:
Pg , pg
Read the ballad through one time for comprehension.
Read the ballad through again. Summarize the action in each stanza.
Identify: rhyme scheme (1st 3 stanzas), repetition, subject(s) addressed, and overall theme

13. Writing your own ballad: (You may NOT work in partners!)
1. Pick a theme from the list from your notes.
2. Come up with a story – focus on a single event. Be sure the subjects covered in your story are included on our list of ballad subjects from your notes.
3. Write your ballad, following the song characteristics from your notes. Construct a minimum of FIVE stanzas – four lines in each stanza. Be sure to follow the ABCB rhyme scheme.
4. Turn in your work VIA Google Classroom!