What is a ballad in English?
A Ballad is a poem that tells a story, which is often fast moving. It usually has four line verses with a regular rhythm and rhyme scheme. It is often written in dialect, as it would have originally been sung or handed down by word of mouth. Many older ballads are anonymous. It often contains repeated lines or a chorus ( again to help people remember as it would be transmitted orally). A common feature is the supernatural, ghosts etc. Colours are used in description ( to help the listener visualise) Some Ballads you might like to look at are “Sir Patrick Spens”, “Mary Colvin” and “Lord Randall”. Examples of good modern ballads are “Frankie and Johnnie” and “Ballad of the Bread Man” by Charles Causley.
