Ballad is one of the most interesting genres presented on our website. The term "ballad" is based on the word "balar" (dance). The ballad is a lyrical-epic genre of literature, a detailed song with a dramatic development of the plot, the main one being an unusual case. In the plot of the ballad is an uncommon story that reflecting the integral moments of the individual and the society. By origin, ballads are associated with folk legends; combine the features of a story and a song. Ballad is one of the main genres in the poetry of romanticism.

The creator of the genre of literary ballad was Robert Burns (1759-1796). The basis of his poetry was oral folklore. In addition, the authors of the first ballads are Jehan de Lescurel, Guillaume de Machaut, who wrote the so-called politest ballads, Eustache Deschamps, etc. The poet François Villon became famous thus to his paradoxical ballads. First ballads in an elegant and veiled manner glorified the sublime love to the Beautiful Lady. The adoration, admiration, enthusiasm for the external beauty and spiritual virtues of the Ideal became the main components of their lyrical plot.

There were ballads of 7, 8, and 10 lines. Arranged to music, they were separated by an internal refrain into several unequal parts. Man is always at the center of literary ballads but poets of the 19th century who chose this genre knew that human powers do not always provide an opportunity to answer all questions and become the sovereign master of their destiny. Therefore, very often literary ballads become are a story poem about the fateful fate, for example, the ballad "Elf King" of the German poet Johann Wolfgang Goethe.

Enjoy the most famous world ballads on our site. Do not forget to leave comments and your impressions.