Ballad - Structure and characteristics

Ballad : A ballad is a form of narrative verse that is considered either poetic or musical. As a literary device, a ballad is a narrative poem, typically consisting of a series of four-line stanzas. Ballads were originally sung or recited as an oral tradition among rural societies and were often anonymous retellings of local legends and stories by wandering minstrels in the Middle Ages. These traditional or ―folk‖ ballads are sometimes referred to as ―popular ballads. 

⦿ One of the most famous ballads in poetry and literature is ―The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Coleridge incorporates many aspects of a traditional folk ballad, including a dramatic story of the journey of an old sailor. 

Structure of Ballad : 

A defining feature of ballads is their structure. Generally, ballads are made up of quatrains, which are stanzas of four lines. The rhyme schemes often used in these stanzas are either ABCB or ABAB, adding a musical quality that enhances the storytelling aspect. This structured format creates a rhythmic flow, making ballads easy to remember and recite, which is essential in the oral tradition where these pieces were often performed or memorized.

⦿ It follows ABCB or ABAB rhyme scheme.
⦿ It is always written in quatrain form or four- lined stanzas.
⦿ The first and third lines are written in iambic tetrameter.
⦿ The second and fourth lines are in the trimester.
⦿ It is a story in narrative poetic form.
⦿ It is used for singing on some occasions.

Characteristics of Ballad : 

A ballad is a form of narrative poetry that has played an important role in literary history for many years. Emerging from oral storytelling traditions, ballads have transformed into a unique poetic style that still enchants audiences with their rhythm and lyrical beauty. This essay examines the main features that characterize a ballad, focusing on its structure, meter, use of repetition, narrative style, language, and dialogue.

⦿ It has a rhythm and music.
⦿ Its purpose is to express strong emotions through music.
⦿ It has a good rhyme scheme with ABAB or ABCB rhyme scheme.
⦿ It has a regional theme and regional musicality.
⦿ It has a good regional story.
⦿ It is in narrative poetic form.

Example : La Belle Dame sans Merci by John Keats
 

And there she lullèd me asleep,
And there I dreamed—Ah! woe betide!—
The latest dream I ever dreamt
On the cold hill side.
I saw pale kings and princes too,
Pale warriors, death-pale were they all;
They cried—‗La Belle Dame sans Merci
Thee hath in thrall!‘