1. Honors World Literature
Medieval Ballads
Honors World Literature

2. Quick Write
Consider the following quick write prompt and respond with 3-4 sentences: “Think of a popular song or TV commercial jingle that you remember or like. Jot down some of the words, enough so the song is recognizable. Then in 2-3 sentences, analyze the elements that make the song/jingle so memorable.
TPS
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3. Ballads
Ballad: a relatively short narrative poem, written to be sung, with a simple and dramatic action.
During Medieval times, ballads were the “literature: of the common people (lower classes).
They were passed down orally for generations by scops/ bards/ balladeers.
Ballads tell brief stories of tragic or common events of the ordinary people.

4. Folk Ballad & Literary ballad
Folk ballads – written anonymously and passed down orally over the years
Literary ballads – more formal , but deliberately imitate the form and spirit of a folk ballad.

5. Characteristics of the ballad
Popular subject matter – true love, love gone wrong, domestic conflicts, wars, tragedies, crime, etc.
Contains a refrain- the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the “chorus” of a song is a refrain
The ballad stanza –
organized in quatrains (4 lines)
strong simple rhythms
abab or abcb rhyme scheme
Common themes: revenge, rebellion, envy, betrayal, remorse, loyalty, patriotism, superstition
Turn to page 193 in your textbook,
“Barbara Allan”

6. Traditional Lyrics for “Barbara Allen”
In Scarlet town where I was born There was a fair maid dwelling And every youth cried well away For her name was Barbara Allen Twas in the merry month of May The green buds were a swelling Sweet William on his deathbed lay For the love of Barbara Allen He sent a servant unto her To the place she was dwelling Saying you must come to his deathbed now If your name be Barbara Allen Slowly slowly she got up Slowly slowly she came nigh him And the only words to him she said Young man I think you're dying
As she was walking oer the fields She heard the death bell knelling And every stroke it seemed to say Hardhearted Barbara Allen
Oh mother mother make my bed Make it long and make it narrow Sweet William died for me today I'll die for him tomorrow
They buried her in the old churchyard They buried him in the choir And from his grave grew a red red rose From her grave a green briar
They grew and grew to the steeple top Till they could grow no higher And there they twined in a true love's knot Red rose around green briar

7. Formal Ballad: “Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner”
It is an ancient Mariner, And he stoppeth one of three. "By thy long gray beard and glittering eye, Now wherefore stopp'st thou me?The Bridegroom’s doors are opened wide, And I am next of kin; The guests are met, the feast is set: May'st hear the merry din."He holds him with his skinny hand, "There was a ship," quoth he. "Hold off! Unhand me, gray- beard loon!" Eftsoons his hand dropt he.He holds him with his glittering eye–
The Wedding-Guest stood still, And listens like a three years’ child: The Mariner hath his will.The Wedding-Guest sat on a stone:
He cannot choose but hear; And thus spake on that ancient man, The bright-eyed Mariner.The ship was cheered, the harbor cleared,
Merrily did we drop Below the kirk, below the hill, Below the lighthouse top.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
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Modern version
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8. Reading Assignment
In your textbooks, read the ballads, “Sir Patrick Spens” on pages
and “Get up and Bar the Door” on pages
Read both of these ballads and complete the following tasks:
1. List the characters
2. List the setting
3. List the rhyme scheme
4. Write a summary of the story the ballad is telling.