CLASS 7 · LEARNING KNOWLEDGE

Ballads and literary design – basic principles

How it works

Ballads are narrative poems that combine features of lyric, epic, and dramatic literature. They usually tell an exciting or tragic story, often with dialogue and dramatic turns. Ballads often use stanzas, rhythm, and vivid language; rhyme and a regular meter often occur, but they are not equally pronounced in every ballad. Literary design includes the deliberate choice of linguistic devices such as metaphors, comparisons, and symbols as well as the shaping of plot, characters, and atmosphere. Ballads encourage reflection and often convey a message, sometimes also a moral. A well-known example is the beginning of Goethe's ballad ‹Wer reitet so spät durch Nacht und Wind?›, which immediately builds plot and suspense.

Note
A ballad can be recognized by the combination of narrative, lyrical, and dramatic elements as well as by its special literary design.

An example

Which statement describes a typical characteristic of a ballad?

Ballads combine narration, poem form, and dramatic elements. So they tell a story in poetic form, often with dialogue and exciting moments. This can be seen, for example, in a line such as ‹Wer reitet so spät durch Nacht und Wind?›, which opens the action and is at the same time poetically shaped.

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Own explanation and own practice exercises by AmyMath. Subject reference framework: German. The topic assignment may vary by federal state.