Popular Songs and Ballads of the 14th Century

Ballad and its Key Features

Towards the later part of the 14^th century popular song’s particularly traditional ballads had become an important source of popular entertainment. Regarding their origin there are much controversies. Their authorship has remained mostly anonymous, but whether the ballad was composed by minstrel or has the result of communal activity. It is essentially simple and popular. They deal with love, local legends and the feats of local heroes, supernatural happenings or religions stories. Its tone is impersonal and detached and there is title or none of the composer is personality to be felt. The ballad is written in a meter known as – ‘ballad meter’,(four fined stanza with Iambic tetra – meter and trimeter respectively):

Oral Tradition: Songs and ballads from the 14th century were primarily passed down through oral tradition. They were often performed and sung by minstrels, troubadours, and other wandering musicians who traveled from place to place, sharing stories and music with their audiences.

Narrative Structure: These songs and ballads typically had a strong narrative structure, telling a story or recounting historical events. They often employed a clear beginning, middle, and end, allowing listeners to follow the plot easily.

Rhyme and Meter: Poetry played a significant role in these compositions, with a focus on rhyme and meter. The verses were often crafted with regular patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables, creating a rhythmic flow to the lyrics.

Folklore and Legends: Many songs and ballads drew inspiration from folklore, legends, and mythology. They often featured characters such as Robin Hood, knights, maidens, and mythical creatures, bringing these tales to life through music and storytelling.

Themes of Love and Heroism: Love and heroism were common themes explored in 14th-century songs and ballads. They celebrated chivalry, honor, and courtly love, often portraying knights and heroes engaging in brave deeds and expressing their devotion to their loved ones.

Historical Events and Battles: Some ballads depicted actual historical events or famous battles, recounting the details and capturing the spirit of the time. These songs served as a means of preserving and commemorating important events from the era.

Emotional Expressions: Songs and ballads often conveyed a range of emotions, from joy and love to sorrow and tragedy. They aimed to evoke strong feelings in the listeners, allowing them to connect with the stories and characters on an emotional level.

Among them the most notable are – Robin Hood Ballad, Chevy Chace. Sir Patrick Spens, Nutbrown Maid are worth to mention.

Robin Hood Ballads

This ballad tells the legendary tales of Robin Hood, a skilled archer and outlaw who robs from the rich to give to the poor. It depicts his adventures in Sherwood Forest and his encounters with the Sheriff of Nottingham. A large number of ballads are composed on the life and adventures of Robin Hood and in the greenwood. He fights against the sheriff and lends his helping hand towards the poor and the oppressed. The adventures of Robin Hood have captivated writers for centuries. The earliest accounts have been traced to ballads penned in the 14th century. In the following two centuries, dozens of long poems, ballads, and dramas fleshed out the story and elevated Robin Hood to mythical status. Among the Robin Hood ballads the important ballads are – Robin Hood and Gandeleyn, Robin Hood and the Monk, Robin Hood and the potter etc.

Chevy Chase

This ballad recounts the Battle of Otterburn, also known as the Chevy Chase, which took place in 1388 between English and Scottish forces, precisely  the fight between Percy of Northumberland and Douglas of Scotland. It describes the fierce combat and bravery displayed by the warriors on both sides. It is one of the oldest and finest epical ballads on the ‘border’ matter. The theme is half history. Addison in “The Spectator” praises this ballad for its Homeric qualities.

 Sir Patrick Spens

This ballad tells the story of Sir Patrick Spens, a Scottish knight who is tasked with sailing to Norway to bring back the king's daughter as a bride for the Scottish king. The ballad narrates the ill-fated voyage and the tragic consequences it brings.

Nutbrown Maid

Also known as "The Nut-Brown Mayde," this ballad explores the theme of faithful love and loyalty. It tells the story of a knight who disguises himself as a beggar to test the devotion of his beloved and reaffirms their commitment to each other. It is a ballad in the strictest term rather a song of love. The story is retuned through a lyrical dialogue of a lady and a gentleman who are engaged in discussion of the charge of inconsistency against women often brought by men.

The Nut-Brown Maid, a baron’s daughter loves a man whom she believes to be a squire, a law degree. But he is actually a lord. One day he comes to maid and says that he has to leave her and to live in a wood as an absconder because he has killed man. Finally the lover reveals himself and makes her the lady of his heritage in Westmorland.

Ardhendu De

Ref: 

1.ALBERT. (2000). History of English Literature (Fifth Edition) [English]. OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS.   

2. A history of English literature : Compton-Rickett, Arthur, 1869-1937 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive. (n.d.). Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/historyofenglish00comprich