Definition of Ballad
Before everything else, it is very important to throw light on the etymology of the word ballad.
Etymologically, the word ballad has been taken from Latin word ballare, which means dancing
song. Ballad is a shorter narrative poem, which comprises of short stanzas. F.B Gum has
explained the definition of ballad as, “a poem meant for singing, quite impersonal in material,
probably connected in its origins with the communal dance but submitted to a process of oral
traditions among people who are free from literary influences and fairly homogeneous in
character.”
Ballad is a short story in verse, which is intended to be sung with the accompaniment of
music. It is opposite to the Epic, which is a lengthy story in verse. It is a popular poem among
the common folks Southern Appalachian Mountains of America.
What is a Ballad?
Dr. Margaret Yocom defines ballad as:
"Is it defined by its form? by the way it tells a story? by who sings it? by the date of its
composition or performance? Is a ballad identical to its text, and, if so, to which text? As you
read, note the use of past or present tense, and note how many of these statements propose a
cultural location for "ballad" and then cut away as "not ballad" all material that doesn't fit."
Characteristics of a Ballad
Characteristics of a ballad are as under:
Every ballad is a short story in verse, which dwells upon only on one particular episode of the
story. There is certainly only one episode of the story in a ballad and the poet needs to complete
the story within the limits of small number of stanzas. John Keats’s ballad La Belle Dame sans
Merci is an excellent example in this regard.
Another fundamental characteristic of a ballad is its universal appeal. Every single ballad touches
upon a specific subject, which bears universal significance. It’s not simply restricted to his
personality or his country, rather; it deals with the whole humanity. John Keats’s ballad La Belle
Dame sans Merci convinces the readers that most of the women are perfidious and double-
crossing.
Use of colloquial language is an indispensable feature of a ballad. The poet has a tendency to
make use of day-to-day and commons words instead of bombastic and flowery language in the
ballad. Read John Keats’s ballad La Belle Dame sans Merci to know how the poet has used
colloquial language in his ballad.
Unlike other kinds of poems, ballad has an abrupt and unexpected opening. The poem starts all
of a sudden, without providing any details about the subject matter. Similarly, the ending of
many ballads may also be abrupt and unexpected.
There are no extra details about the surroundings, atmosphere or environment. The poem starts
suddenly and the reader has to visualise the setting himself through the words of the poet. Thus
ballads lack in superfluous details.
Dialogue is also an indispensable feature of a ballad. The story is mostly told through dialogues.
Look at of John Keats’s ballad La Belle Dame sans Merci, which is a complete dialogue
between the speaker and the knight.
