A narrative poem that was originally intended to be sung

Consists of 4 line stanzas, or quatrain

2nd and 4th line rhyme, sometime have a refrain—a repeated phrase

Passed down orally

Most Medieval people were illiterate

Stories often changed in the retelling

Many versions of the same story

Ballads focused on a single incident

Often contain Dialogue “ Blah, blah, blah “

Begin in the middle of the story (in medias res)

Rhyme and repetition of sounds enabled minstrels to recall and recite the ballads

Alliteration—the repetition of consonant sounds

Popular subjects included:

tragic love domestic conflict Crime war shipwreck

Dialect—Scottish

Rase = rose Gin === ifTwa = two

Rhyming scheme= abcb or aabb

O slowly, slowly rase she up’ aTo the place where he was lyin, bAnd when she drew the curtain by:

c“Young man, I think you’re dyin.”

b

---from “Barbara Allan”

Tells the story of a tragic love

Theme: unfulfilled or unrequited love and impending doom

Modern examples: Songs by Garth Brooks, Meat Loaf, Brad Paisley

Story—The Little Mermaid, Hunchback of Notre Dame

To an audience at that time, it would not have seemed at all unusual that a nobleman such as Sir John Graeme could be healthy one day and then be lying near death the next

Does he die of illness or unrequited love?

The tolling of the dead-bell forces Barbara Allan to accept the reality of Sir John’s death

In death, Sir John and Barbara Allan are finally happy with each other and able to achieve a peace in their relationship that they could not agree to in life

Why weren’t they able to be together in life?

Rhyme Scheme?

The king sits in Dumferline town, _____Driking the blude-reid wine: _____“O whar will I get a guid sailor _____To sail this ship of mine?” _____

Describes the loss at sea of a Scottish ship and crew

Theme: man against nature, the dangers faced by sailors at sea

Drunk king asks for a super sailor to sail his ship

Old man replies: “Sir Patrick Spens…”

King writes him a letter, he laughs at first

Spens agrees, despite the danger (The tear blinded his ee.)

He sails against the advice of his crew “For I fear a deadly storm”--

Foreshadowing

The ship sinks off the coast of Aberdour (50 fathoms deep)

The sailors hats float while their ladies wait for their return

Tells the humorous story of a strong-willed husband and wife locked in an argument

Theme: Treats marital discord in a humorous manner

Slant-rhymes-”then / pan”-”sure / door”

Chances are that the words in each pair had the same vowel sounds in this time

Changes came in the 16th century—modern English

Man and wife in home◦ Wife preparing dinner◦ Neither wants to bar

the door◦ Make a deal: the one

who speaks first has to get up and bar the door

◦ 2 men walk in and see the silent pair

◦ They threaten to shave his beard and kiss his wife

◦ He speaks and she wins the deal

http://www.scotsindependent.org/features/scots/door.htm

All three of these ballads deal with problems encountered in everyday life

Stop

Tales of chivalric knights, many featured King Arthur and his round table

Sir Gawain and the Green KnightLe Morte d’Arthur (The death of Arthur) by Sir Thomas Malory

1485-1660“Rebirth”

Began in in 14th century ItalyBegan in England after the War of the Roses, Henry VII

Medieval period focused on religion and the after life

Renaissance stressed humanity on earth Arts, literature, beauty in nature, human

impulses, a new mastery over the world Questioned timeworn truths (flatlanders) Challenged authority

Renaissance Man

A many-faceted person who cultivated his innate talents to the fullest

Great burst of exploration – culminates in Columbus’ arrival in New World in 1492

Compass developedAdvances in field of astronomyGrowing sense of nationalismProtestant reformation

Henry VII son (Arthur) married Catherine of Aragon, daughter of King Ferdinand of Spain, England’s greatest new World rival

Arthur died, pope allowed Arthur’s younger brother (Henry VIII) to marry Catherine

This would prove to be a problem

Henry VIIISucceeded his father in 1509A true Renaissance princeSkilled athlete, poet, musician…Asked the church for permission to divorce Catherine after 18 yrs and only one female child--Mary

The Pope refused Henry’s request for a divorce

Henry broke with Rome in 1534, declared himself head of the Church of England or Anglican Church

Henry VIII married Anne Boleyn, she produced a daughter—Elizabeth

Anne was later executed for adultery

Restored Pope, Catholicism Married Philip of Spain Executed approx. 300 protestants These executions are why she’s known as

“Bloody Mary”

The unwanted daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn

Strong, clever, educated in Greek & Latin, patron of the arts

Re-established monarchy’s position over Anglican Church, restored Book of Common Prayer

Believed in religious tolerance, lowered taxes, in favor of public education

Never married—”The Virgin Queen” She was the inspiration for Spenser’s “The

Faerie Queene” Supported Sir Walter Raleigh-introduced tobacco and potatoes-Tried for treason, imprisoned in Tower of

London-finally executed in 1618

Spain refused to recognize England’s claim to America—sent 130 ships

They claimed English privateers were plundering Spanish ships

8-day battle aided by a storm; England became known as a great sea power

Did NOT believe in religious tolerance; persecuted Puritans

1604—King James I appointed scholars to create a new translation of the Bible, promoted the use of English language (King James Version)

Following Queen Eliz I, came King James 1605—The Gunpowder Plot to blow up

Parliament—Guy Fawkes Day (Nov 5 celebrate)

1606—Shakespeare's “Macbeth” produced

1629 Charles I dismissed Parliament for 11 years

Thousands migrated to N. America, mostly Puritans

Long Parliament

Lyric poetry was favoriteSonnet perfected; sonnet cycles became very popular

Edmund Spenser wrote The Faerie Queene (epic, intricate verse w/ rich imagery)