Vocabulary Spotlight
Ballad
Part of Speech: Noun
Definition: A type of song or poem that tells a story, typically emotional and with a simple structure.
“The folk ballad narrated the tale of a hero’s journey and sacrifices.”
Pronunciation
[ˈbæləd]
Synonyms, Antonyms & Related Words
Synonyms
Verse
Ditty
Hymn
Poem
Antonyms
Narrative
Lecture
Related Words
Lyric (noun)
Word Origin
“Ballad” originates from the Old French *ballade*, meaning “dance song.” Traditionally, ballads were sung while dancing and used to tell stories in lyrical form.
Word Family
Noun: Ballad – A song or poem narrating a story.
Noun: Balladeer – A singer of ballads.
Mnemonics
Think of “ballad” as a “song with a ball of stories,” as it weaves together different emotions in narrative form.
Alternatively: Imagine a “ball” that spins tales, reflecting the storytelling nature of a ballad.
Industry-specific Usage
Music
In music, ballads are slow, expressive songs that tell emotional stories, popular in pop, rock, and folk genres.
Literature
In literature, a ballad is a form of narrative poetry that uses simple language to convey stories, often of folklore or romance.
Film and Theater
In film and theater, ballads are sometimes performed to enhance emotional scenes or tell backstories in musicals.
In Context
Ballads play a significant role in music and poetry, often capturing the essence of human experiences like love, sorrow, and adventure in a lyrical narrative.
In both ancient and modern contexts, ballads serve as a medium to express emotions through storytelling, often with simple rhyme schemes and repetitive verses.
Modern ballads have become popular in pop culture, providing a format for artists to convey personal stories or societal messages.