2. Medieval Period Literary Styles

3. General Purposes Narrative –to tell a story Didactic –to teach a lesson

4. Literary Styles Poetry –Ballads Religious works Medieval romance –Arthurian romance Drama –Religious in nature (mystery, miracle, morality)

5. Ballad First appeared during 12 th century Passed on through oral tradition for centuries English and Scottish folk ballads –Originated in the wild border country between England and Scotland Areas where a formal written literature had yet to develop Areas where people’s lives did not permit books and reading –Sung in Scottish dialect –Songs of the people

6. Ballad Presents a single dramatic episode/event Told through action and dialogue Little characterization, description, or motivation Contains a refrain: repeated line or stanza Meant to be sung

7. Ballad Closed form poem: a poem with specifically prescribed elements (such as rhyme, meter, stanza division, etc.) Narrative Consists of four-lined stanzas (quatrains), usually rhyming abcb or abab Rhythm: –Lines 1 & 3: iambic tetrameter –Lines 2 & 4: iambic trimeter

8. Drama Origins Beginnings in church Teaching the illiterate Easter Sunday Mass –Dialogue of the two Marys at the tomb of Jesus Moved outside Pageant wagon

9. Drama Why drama in church? –To get control of unknown –To present role models Types of Plays –Mystery—about the stories in the Bible –Miracle—about the lives of the Catholic saints –Morality—about the way one should live in order to please God and the consequences of sin