Literary Devices In Ballad ✍️

Introduction

A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads are characterized by their storytelling nature and are typically composed in short stanzas. They have been used throughout history to narrate tales of love, adventure, and legend, often in a lyrical and rhythmic manner.

Contents

Pronunciation

BAL-uhd

How Writers Use Ballads

Writers use ballads to:

Tell Stories: Conveying a narrative in a structured, lyrical format.
Create Rhythm: Using rhyme and meter to create a musical quality.
Invoke Emotion: Engaging the audience with emotional and dramatic tales.
Preserve Culture: Passing down stories, legends, and traditions through generations.

Types of Ballads

Type	Description	Example
Folk Ballad	Traditional ballads passed down orally.	“Barbara Allen”
Literary Ballad	Ballads written by poets in a literary style.	“La Belle Dame sans Merci” by John Keats
Broadside Ballad	Printed ballads sold on streets, often topical.	“The Unquiet Grave”
Modern Ballad	Contemporary songs that follow ballad conventions.	“The Ballad of John and Yoko” by The Beatles

Rules of Ballads

Rule	Description
Quatrain Structure	Typically composed of four-line stanzas.
Rhyme Scheme	Often follows an ABAB or ABCB rhyme scheme.
Narrative Focus	Tells a story, often with a dramatic climax.
Refrain	Repeated lines or phrases to enhance rhythm.
Meter	Usually written in iambic tetrameter or trimeter.

Examples of Ballads in Different Media

Ballad in Literature

Title	Author	Example
La Belle Dame sans Merci	John Keats	“O what can ail thee, knight-at-arms, Alone and palely loitering?”
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner	Samuel Taylor Coleridge	“It is an ancient Mariner, And he stoppeth one of three.”
The Ballad of Reading Gaol	Oscar Wilde	“Yet each man kills the thing he loves, By each let this be heard.”

Ballad in Children’s Books

Title	Author	Example
The Highwayman	Alfred Noyes	“The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees.”
The Ballad of Mulan	Anonymous	“She unrolls the scroll, fast reads the lines thrice.”
The Tale of Custard the Dragon	Ogden Nash	“Belinda lived in a little white house, With a little black kitten and a little gray mouse.”

Ballad in Poetry

Poem	Poet	Example
Annabel Lee	Edgar Allan Poe	“It was many and many a year ago, In a kingdom by the sea.”
The Ballad of Birmingham	Dudley Randall	“Mother dear, may I go downtown Instead of out to play?”
The Ballad of the Goodly Fere	Ezra Pound	“Ha’ we lost the goodliest fere o’ all For the priests and the gallows tree?”

Ballad in Songs

Song	Artist	Example
The Ballad of John and Yoko	The Beatles	“The way things are going, They’re gonna crucify me.”
Hotel California	Eagles	“On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair.”
American Pie	Don McLean	“Bye, bye Miss American Pie, drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry.”

Ballad in Movies

Movie	Scene	Example
Titanic	My Heart Will Go On	“Every night in my dreams, I see you, I feel you.”
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves	Everything I Do	“Look into my eyes, you will see What you mean to me.”
8 Mile	Lose Yourself	“His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy.”

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Ballad in Advertising

Advertisement	Company	Example
The Man Your Man Could Smell Like	Old Spice	“Look at your man, now back to me, now back at your man, now back to me.”
Dumb Ways to Die	Metro Trains	“Set fire to your hair, Poke a stick at a grizzly bear.”
Like a Girl	Always	“Run like a girl, Fight like a girl.”

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FAQs about Ballads

What is a ballad in literature?

A ballad in literature is a narrative poem, often set to music, that tells a story in short stanzas with a regular rhyme and meter.

How does a ballad differ from other forms of poetry?

A ballad is distinct for its narrative style, quatrain structure, and use of refrains, making it more song-like compared to other forms of poetry.

Can ballads be used in modern writing?

Yes, ballads can be adapted for modern writing, including songs, poems, and even advertising, to tell engaging and rhythmic stories.

Why are ballads important in literature?

Ballads are important for preserving cultural stories, creating rhythmic and engaging narratives, and evoking strong emotional responses from readers.

Related Devices

Lyric Poetry

A type of emotional, song-like poetry that explores personal feelings and thoughts.

Epic Poetry

A long narrative poem that details the heroic deeds and adventures of legendary figures.

Ode

A form of lyrical poetry, often in praise of something or someone, characterized by its elevated style and formal structure.

Sonnet

A 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme, often exploring themes of love, beauty, and mortality.

Narrative Poetry

A form of poetry that tells a story, including ballads, epics, and verse novels.