English Literature 2

Topic : Ballads
What is a Ballad?

A ballad is a song like poem that tells a story.

-The word ballad originally derived from an Old French word meaning “dancing
song”.
-There are two types of ballads.

a)Folk ballads
b)Literary ballads
Folk Ballads
Literary Ballads
Ballads stanzas

 Ballads are often written in ballad stanzas, which usually have:

1. Four lines

2. Four accented syllables in lines one and three

3. Three accented syllables in lines two and four

4. An abcb rhyme scheme

Characteristics of Ballads

• Ballads often

1. Deal with supernatural events

2. Tell sensational, sordid, or tragic stories
3. Have a strong, simple beat
4. Use a great deal of repetition. – refrain- a repeated word, phrase, line or group of lines.
- incremental repetition- a phrase or sentences with a new element added each
time
it is repeated.
5. Use a question and answer format
6. Omit details
7. Contain conventional phrases that have meanings beyond their literal ones.