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Questions and Answers
In the ______ century, we have the first transcriptions of the poems.
In the ______ century, we have the first transcriptions of the poems.
13-14
The collection of ballads published by bishop Thomas Percy is called ______.
The collection of ballads published by bishop Thomas Percy is called ______.
Reliques of Ancient English Poetry
The language used to write the ballads was ______.
The language used to write the ballads was ______.
simple
The ballad sellers copied the ballads' texts on small pieces of ______.
The ballad sellers copied the ballads' texts on small pieces of ______.
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Repetition is a main characteristic of medieval ballads, where some ______ were repeated.
Repetition is a main characteristic of medieval ballads, where some ______ were repeated.
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The term 'formula' is also known as a ______ name for formulae.
The term 'formula' is also known as a ______ name for formulae.
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The narrative usually begins abruptly in the middle of the events, which in Latin is called ______.
The narrative usually begins abruptly in the middle of the events, which in Latin is called ______.
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The story is told through a mixture of ______ and dialogue.
The story is told through a mixture of ______ and dialogue.
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Only ______ were permitted to hunt in the woods because the king was the one who allowed them.
Only ______ were permitted to hunt in the woods because the king was the one who allowed them.
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The repetition of the mother's question changes at a certain ______ and then continues.
The repetition of the mother's question changes at a certain ______ and then continues.
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The boy would like to give his mother ______ cows, a symbol of richness, to have milk.
The boy would like to give his mother ______ cows, a symbol of richness, to have milk.
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The boy would like to give his lover the ______ and fire because she betrayed him.
The boy would like to give his lover the ______ and fire because she betrayed him.
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Study Notes
Medieval Ballad
- Medieval ballads originated from an oral tradition of poems, which were later written down by poets known as scop, minstrel, or bard.
- The first transcriptions of these poems date back to the 13th-14th century, and were later collected and published by Bishop Thomas Percy in the 17th century, known as Reliques of Ancient English Poetry.
- A new occupation emerged, the ballad seller, who copied and sold ballads' texts on small pieces of paper.
Topics
- Historical ballads or border ballads focus on wars between England and Scotland.
- Outlaws ballads revolve around rebellion, with Robin Hood as a prominent character.
- Ballads of magic feature fairies, ghosts, and witchcraft.
- Ballads of love and domestic tragedy deal with the loss of loved ones.
Language
- Medieval ballads employed simple language, utilizing narration and speech.
- Key characteristics of the language include:
- Repetition of certain words or phrases.
- Use of refrain, a repeated phrase or line.
- Metaphor and formula (e.g., "true love" for "my lover" and "Greenwood" for "wood").
Structure
- Ballads typically consist of 4-line stanzas called quatrains.
- They follow a regular rhyme scheme, such as ABCB or ABAB.
- Ballads are often short, combining narrative and dialogue.
- The narrative lacks detailed introductions, instead, starting abruptly in the middle of events (in medias res).
Characters
- Ballads feature both real and supernatural characters, including fairies, witches, and ghosts.
Lord Randal
- The ballad lacks a traditional rhyme scheme, instead relying on repetition throughout each stanza.
- The first stanza features two lines with the mother, and the rest with the son, with no narration, only dialogue.
- The mother's questions and the son's responses use repetition and rephrase.
- The ballad reveals Lord Randal's noble status through:
- Hunting in the woods, a privilege reserved for nobles.
- Ownership of hawks and hounds, symbols of wealth.
- The mention of his "will," which includes his belongings, such as lands, gold, and silver.
- His intention to leave his sister gold and silver to marry or become a nun.
- His wish to give his mother 24 cows, symbolizing richness.
- His desire to give his lover "hell and fire" due to her betrayal, referencing the ancient legend of Henry I's poisoning with fried eels.
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Description
Explore the history of medieval ballads, from oral tradition to written records. Learn about the roles of poets, minstrels, and bards, and the significant publications of the 13th century.
