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A ballad is a poem or song that tells a story. It features a plot, characters, and a structured narrative. You can write a ballad for class or to take on an exciting challenge. Start by brainstorming ideas for your ballad. Then, write a draft with a solid storyline, along with rhyme and repetition. Afterward, refine the ballad and try reading it along with music to share with others.
Steps
Brainstorm ideas
Think of a memorable event or story. A ballad can also be about a significant life experience told with exaggeration or fictional elements. Perhaps you have an interesting story from your youth or a family tale that you want to share from your perspective.
- For example, you could write a ballad about a ghost haunting someone in your family, or about a time you snuck out to meet a loved one.
Get inspired by current events. Many ballads are based on significant news events that grab attention in the media. Browse through online news or flip through headlines in newspapers. Look for stories that sound intriguing or unusual to serve as material for your ballad.
- For instance, you might read about a trial involving a young woman accused of killing her father in self-defense, or a current story about a refugee living in a camp struggling to improve their life.
Read some sample ballads. Ballads can be found in both poetry and song formats. Search online or visit your local library to find printed versions of ballads in books or magazines. You may want to explore the following works:
- “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
- "La Belle Dame Sans Merci" by John Keats
- "Ballad in A" by Cathy Park Hong
- "Maude Claire" by Christina Rossetti
- "Ballad of the Moon Moon" by Federico Garcia Lorca
- “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll” by Bob Dylan
Write a draft.
Write using the structure of a ballad. Most ballads follow a four-stanza format with four lines per stanza. The first two lines rhyme, and the third does not (AABC rhyme scheme). You may also try the ABXB rhyme scheme, where the second and fourth lines rhyme and the third line doesn't.
- If you're feeling creative, you can try writing stanzas with eight lines or experimenting with looser rhyme patterns. Modern ballads often feature longer stanzas with more relaxed rhyme schemes.
Introduce the main character to the reader. The first line of a ballad plays an important role in capturing the reader's attention. Use the opening line to introduce the main character(s) in the story.
- For example, in Bob Dylan's ballad “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll,” the first line introduces the two main characters: “William Zanzinger killed poor Hattie Carroll.”
- In John Keats' poem "La Belle Dame Sans Merci,” the opening line introduces the main character with a question: “O what can ail thee, knight-at-arms…”
Limit the number of secondary characters. Stick to one or a maximum of two main characters and one or two supporting characters if necessary. A ballad should focus on the key details of a story with a few characters, avoiding multiple main characters and complex plots all at once.
- For example, in Bob Dylan's “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll,” there are two main characters, William Zanzinger and Hattie Carroll, with supporting characters such as the police officer and judge briefly mentioned.
- In John Keats' poem "La Belle Dame Sans Merci,” there are two main characters, the knight and the beautiful lady.
Select a memorable line as the refrain. In a typical ballad, the refrain is usually the third or fourth line of the stanza, repeated throughout the poem. The refrain should relate to the rest of the ballad and contain a powerful image that sticks in the reader's mind.
- For instance, in Samuel Taylor Coleridge's “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” the refrain appears as a variation of “The bright-eyed Mariner” (The Mariner with bright eyes).
- In Bob Dylan's “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll,” the refrain is a lengthy line that appears at the end of each stanza: “But you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears/Take the rag away from your face/Now ain't the time for your tears.”
Use rhyme and repetition. Stick to a consistent rhyme scheme in each stanza. Repeat certain words or phrases. Use simple, vivid language to create a rhythm throughout the poem.
- For example, in Coleridge's “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” he repeats words like “eye” and “Mariner”: “He hold him with his glittering eye-/The Wedding-Guest stood still,/And listens like a three years’ child:/The Mariner hath his will.”
Incorporate dialogue in the ballad. Let the characters in the ballad speak and place their words in quotation marks. The dialogue should be concise and to the point, capturing the most significant thoughts of the character.
- For example, in Coleridge's “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” the mariner tells the wedding guests about his journey: “The ship was cheered, the harbour cleared/Merrily did we drop/Below the kirk, below the hill,/Below the lighthouse top.”
Build to a climax or a moment of realization. Like any great story, a ballad should have an introduction, middle, and conclusion, with a climax or an insightful realization in the second half of the poem. The climax may be the most dramatic event that happens to the narrator or main character. It could also be the moment the protagonist understands their true circumstances.
- For instance, in John Keats' poem "La Belle Dame Sans Merci,” the climax occurs in the tenth stanza when the knight realizes he's fallen into the trap of the beautiful lady: “I saw pale kings and princes too,/Pale warriors, death-pale were they all:/They cried- ‘La Belle Dame sans Merci/Thee hath in thrall!’”
Write a compelling final stanza. The final stanza in a ballad should encapsulate the central theme or message of the poem. It should leave the reader with an unforgettable image or provide closure to the sequence of events. It can also introduce a new element regarding the events in the ballad, prompting the reader to reflect on the earlier parts of the poem.
- For instance, in John Keats' "La Belle Dame Sans Merci,” the poem ends with the knight's response to the question asked in the first stanza, after revealing that he has escaped the curse of the beautiful lady, even though he now lives in a cold and gloomy world: “And this is why I sojourn here,/Alone and palely loitering,/Though the sedge is withered from the lake,/And no birds sing.”
Polish your ballad.
Read the ballad aloud. Once you've finished the draft, read it out loud. Listen to the rhyme, repetition, and rhythm. Make sure your ballad tells the story clearly and concisely. Pay attention to any awkward or wordy phrases. Edit for smoothness and clarity.
- It’s also a good idea to read your ballad out loud to catch any spelling, grammatical, or punctuation errors.
Share the ballad with others. Let friends, colleagues, or family members read your ballad. Ask them if they find it engaging and easy to understand. Listen for feedback on its rhythm and lyrical quality.
- Be open to constructive criticism to help refine your ballad.
Read the ballad to music. Ballads are often recited or sung to music. You can read your ballad with an existing recorded track that has a rhythm fitting for the poem. Alternatively, you can play acoustic guitar to accompany the ballad or sing it along with music.
- Consider using string instruments like cello, harp, or violin as background music for your ballad.
