1. Folk ballad – rhymed verse that was recited or sung.
Ballad Notes
Folk ballad – rhymed verse that was recited or sung.

2. Common topics Tragic accidents and sudden disasters
Murderous acts and the desire for revenge
Unrequited love and jealous sweethearts
Heroic deeds and the quest for honor

3. Characteristics of a ballad
1. Dramatization of a single incident.
2. Little reflection or expression of sentiment.
3. Dialogue or questions and answers that further the story.
4. A strong, simple beat and an uncomplicated rhyme scheme.
5. Use of the refrain, a regularly repeated line or phrase at the end of the stanza.

4. Characteristics of a ballad cont.
6. The tendency to suggest rather than directly state.
7. Stories that were often based on actual events.

5. Ballad format Quatrain – four-line stanza
Second and fourth lines rhyme
First and third lines have four stressed syllables; second and fourth lines have three stressed syllables