[HOTLIST]

Create A Ballad

A ballad is a song that tells a story in verse. It is one of the oldest forms of poetry and music. During the Middle Ages minstrels wandered throughout Europe performing these types of songs.

There are many ballads that have been preserved from the Middle Ages. Because ballads were sung, rather than written, they often changed. The ballad "Barbara Allen" is an excellent example.

After reading this ballad follow the directions given and write your own. Remember a ballad is simply a story where the end word of every other sentence rhymes.

Directions:

Step 1:
Choose a subject for your ballad. It can be your life, a friend, a sport, or a topic of your choice.

Step 2:
The rhyme scheme of a ballad is:
A
B
A
B

Step 3:
List pairs of rhyming words.
road, load
course, horse

Step 4:
Write sentences about your topic that end with the rhyming
words from Step 3.
On a dark and dusty road
He carried his burdensome load

Step 5:
Follow the rhyme scheme. Write two stanzas of four lines each.
On a dark and dusty road A
I changed to smell a musty horse B
He carried his burdensome load. A
Along a steady course. B
The smelly horse it did rest, C
While I went into town D
To reach that place I did my best C
So I could soon sit down. D

Step 6:
Share it with your friends, and classmates.