Questions and Answers
What was the original meaning of the term 'ballad'?
A dance song
What is a characteristic rhyme scheme often employed in ballads?
ABCB
How were many ballads written and sold?
As single-sheet broadsides
During which time period were ballads particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and song of Britain and Ireland?
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What did the term 'ballad' come to mean in the later 19th century?
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Study Notes
Origins of Ballads
- The original meaning of the term 'ballad' referred to a narrative poem or song that told a story, often with a folkloric or legendary theme.
Structural Characteristics
- A characteristic rhyme scheme often employed in ballads is the quatrains with an ABAB or ABCB rhyme pattern.
Dissemination and Distribution
- Many ballads were written and sold as broadsides, which were single sheets of paper containing the lyrics and sold on the streets or in taverns.
Historical Context
- Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and song of Britain and Ireland during the 16th to 18th centuries.
Evolution of the Term
- By the later 19th century, the term 'ballad' came to mean a slow and sentimental love song, often with a romantic or melancholic tone.
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Description
Test your knowledge of ballads with this quiz! From their origins in medieval France to their popularity in Britain, Ireland, and beyond, discover the history and characteristics of this narrative verse form set to music.
