A ballad is a form of verse to be sung or recited and characterized by its presentation of a dramatic or exciting episode in simple narrative form.
Here are some typical characteristics:
Plot:
• A single episode of highly dramatic nature is presented
• The incidents are usually such as happen to common people (as opposed to nobility) and often have to do with domestic episodes
• Physical courage and love are frequent themes
Structure:
• Refrain- a repeated word, line, or group of lines
• Transitions are abrupt
• Often the ballad is brought to a close with some sort of summary stanza- usually an abrupt ending
Dialogue:
• Action is largely developed through dialogue with little clue as to who is speaking
Narration:
• slight attention is paid to characterization or description in a detached narration (missing details)
Language:
• Tragic situations and sudden disasters are presented with the utmost simplicity using plain, simple language
Purpose:

Reason that an author writes something. Details such as dialogue, images, or repeated words can help us guess the purpose. For example, in “Lord Randall,” the mother repeats the words
“my son” and “my handsome young man” in each section, or stanza. We can guess that she loves her boy and that she is upset about his condition. Based on this information, what do you think might be one purpose for this ballad?

While listening to the poem, take notes on the structure (what is the refrain of the poem?), Mysterious details
(questions you asked yourself during poem), abrupt ending (what happens the last stanza of the poem?) and plot (what is the poem about?- think of dramatic nature, domestic episodes, common people…),
Mother mak my bed soon; for I'm wearied with hunting and fain would lie down.
Lord Randall ate lunch with his true love and he was poisoned and is going to die.
Why is he so weary? Where is he?
He wants to give his true love hell and fire.

Bar the door.
Husband and wife are fighting over who is going to lock the door it takes two men eating their food and threatening to kiss his wife in order for him to talk.
Who are the men that just showed up?
Why do they need to lock the door?
Wife is happy that husband has to lock the door because he spoke first.

Edward,
Edward and
Mother,
Mother
Edwards mother told him to kill his father, he did and now he is in exile.
Why is there so much killing in the beginning?
He is going to leave his mother the curse of hell.

Literary or lyrical ballads grew out of an increasing interest in the ballad form among social elites and intellectuals, particularly in the Romantic Movement from the later eighteenth century.
Chose one of the ballads listed below, and compare it to the characteristics of the ballads we read in class.
Repitition,
Dialogue, Missing
Details, Tells a story.
Repitition, Tells a story, tells a sad story, Dialogue,
Missing details.
It brings up the supernatural, it says "I can't sleep" when she is already dead. They both repeat and are both about love.
Robert Burn’s “John Barleycorn”
Sir Walter Scott’s “Marmion ”
Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “Kubla Khan”
Rudyard Kipling’s “Fuzzy Wuzzy”
Oscar Wilde’s “Ballad of Reading Gaol”
Alfred Noye’s “The Highwayman”
The Unquiet Grave
The Old Man Who Lived in the Woods
Peader Kearney’s Soldier’s Song
The Unquiet Grave.

Chose one of the songs listed below or find your own song (as long as it compares to a ballad), and compare it to the characteristics of the ballads we read in class.
Repition, Dialogue
, Missing details,
Tells a story
There was repetition, it was a sad love story.
There was missing details. They both talk about death.
It brings up dishonored friendship. It brings up supernatural (they are both dead and singing to each other).
Johnny Cash’s “Long Black Veil”
Jimi Hendrix’s “Hey Joe”
Led Zepplin’s “Stairway to Heaven”
Frank Sinatra’s “Funny Valentine”
Dudley Randall’s “Ballad of Birmingham”
Aerosmith’s “Dream On”
The Beatle’s “Ballad of John and Yoko”
Joel Billy’s “Ballad of Billy the Kid”
Don McLean’s “American Pie”
Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird”