What is a ballad?

A ballad may be defined as a song that narrates a story. The term ‘Ballad’ is derived from the Latin ‘Ballare’, which means to dance. It has been in existence thousands of years ago when people had still not learnt to read and write. They were song sung by wandering minstrels (singers)  to the accompaniment of musical instrument.

Features:

• A ballad often narrates stories of love, adventure, war, and bravery. The theme may be tragic or comic. Often, there is a touch of supernatural. Basic emotions such as love, hatred and pity are the prominent themes.
• Deals with a single episode. The story is unraveled through both dialogue and action.
• The poetic diction is noted for its simplicity. As the poet wished to be understood easily by all his listeners.
• The ballad often begins abruptly. Sometimes an unknown person asks a question, the answer forms the rest of the ballad.

e.g.  O what can ail thee, knight-at-arms,

        Alone and palely loitering?...
        O what can ail thee, knight-at-arms,
        So haggard and so woe-begone? …

• A characteristic feature of a ballad is repetition, usually in the form of anaphora/refrain- the lines are repeated at intervals in a poem.

Popular ballads:

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

La Belle Dame Sans Merci by John Keats

The Walrus and the Carpenter  by Lewis Carroll