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| Teacher's Notes: Ballads remain a popular poetic form and easily taught. I usually give students a handout with a range of short ballads from different periods and include some popular songs. In teams, students read and identify the characteristic features and we talk about the ways the different ballads reflect the cultural values of the time. Some short writing activities that practice the abab pattern are also fun and a good warm up. Then set the task of writing a ballad about a recent event. The newspaper is good for getting ideas. Students work well in pairs for this task. |
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Ballads are great for telling a story. Traditional Ballads were usually about important events in everyday life or dramatic events in a nation's history, but today they can be about just about anything. Ballads have quite recognisable features, such as:
I heard a great Ballad on the Radio a few weeks ago. It was modelled on "The Man from Snowy River" and told the story from the horse's point of view. Very funny!
Your task is to write a ballad of at least 6 verses (plus a chorus if needed). Use a model - another ballad that you like and 'copy' the pattern. If you need some models don't forget to look at all the sites on the Internet Poetry Quiz. |