1. Quickwrite Directions: On a piece of loose leaf paper, write your MLA heading. Then respond to the following prompt in a paragraph of at least 5-8 sentences. Think of your favorite song. Why is it your favorite? Explain. (Maybe this song helped you through a hard time. Maybe this song is entertaining to you. Maybe you can relate to what it is about.)

2. Medieval Ballad:
A narrative poem or song popular in England & Scotland during the Middle Ages. “Poetry of the people”

3. Ballad is derived from an old French word meaning “dancing song”
Author unknown & passed down orally so there are many different versions
Genre thought to be nearly 1000 years old with earliest ballad around 1300

4. Subjects for Ballads
They were used as a form of entertainment and were usually about: tragedy, the absurdity of marriage, tragic love, wars, crimes, Revenge, rebellion, envy, and betrayal.
Later ballads celebrated historical events & romantic heroes.

5. Quatrains a four line stanza with rhyming 2nd & 4th lines
O slowly, slowly raise she up
To the place where he was lyin’,
And when she drew the curtain by,
“young man I think you’re dyin’.”

6. Refrain A repeated word, phrase or group of lines Reinforces the theme
Contributes to the rhythm

7. American Ballads
these are songs that tell a story, which can be dramatic, funny, or romantic.
Usually contain American slang
Have the same requirements of Medieval ballads.

8. American Ballads
While listening to the ballads, annotate your paper copy of the lyrics.
Circle the rhyming 2nd and 4th lines in each quatrain.
Underline the refrains.
Write the subject off to the side.

9. GRQ’s for Barbara Allan
How has Sir John Slighted Barbara Allan?
What happens to Sir John? Why?
Why does Barbara Allan tell her mother to make her bed? Why is she asking this of her mother?
What is the refrain?

10. GRQ’s for Get Up & Bar the Door
What reason does the wife give for not barring the door?
What is the pact that the husband and wife agree to?
What do the 2 strangers do in the house?
Who speaks first and why?
What does this ballad make fun of?