ballads

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