Ballad Definition
The word ‘Ballad’ has been derived from the French word ‘Ballare’ meaning ‘to dance’. Fundamentally, “a ballad is a poem that tells a fairly simple story” (narrative). Thus a story is what a ballad trying to convey Ballads are often used in songs & have a musical quality in them.
The basic form of the ballad is iambic heptameter (seven sets of unstressed & stressed syllables per line), in sets of four with the second & fourth line rhyming. The rhyme scheme of the ballad is usually abab or aabb.
8 Important Characteristics of a Ballad
- It is a poem that tells a story.
- Its language is simple.
- It concentrates on a single episode.
- The theme is often tragic & sad.
- The story is told through dialogue & action.
- It includes some sort of repeated lines.
- It has an exposition, complication & resolution.
- It has a surprising ending
Language in Ballads
- they include language that focuses on actions & dialogue.
- they include language that indirectly conveys information about the characters & relationships.
- they are often written in third or first person.
- Generally, abac, aabb, abbc is ballad rhyme scheme.
- they have a regular beat structure.
- they are often written in complete sentences.
- they include language that conveys a particular mood
