• Medieval Ballads
  • "Barbara Allen" (Study Questions)
  • "Sir Patrick Spence" (Study Questions) 
• Medieval Lyrics
  • "Western Wind" (Study Questions)
  • "Now Goes the Sun Under the Wood" (Study Questions)

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Medieval Ballads What is a ballad?  Simply put, it is "A formalized story, often choral, told in a situational rather than a narrative style, which is sung to a tune."  Child's Ballads mean the ballads in The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, published by Francis James Child at the end of the nineteenth century.  The five-volume collection embodies a definition of `ballad' which largely holds today. Please check your handbook and textbook for simplified definitions of popular ballads and literary ballads. For a detailed definition of popular ballads (or border ballad) with examples, please go to What is a Ballad? Ballad Style (narration and theme)  What's in a Ballad? (themes)  &  Ballad Form [top]

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Medieval Lyrics Topics of Medieval Lyrics: The song of spring  (the French reverdie), the love lyric and love complaint, the celebration of Virgin Mary, the witty satire of women, the meditation upon Calvary--and some rollicking erse in praise of good food, good drink, and good living (Norton Anthology 365).  [top]