English ballads

English ballads are narrative poems or songs that tell stories, often about love, adventure, or history. Traditionally performed orally, they feature simple but vivid language, repetitive refrains, and a musical rhythm that makes them easy to remember and sing. Originating in medieval England, ballads often center around dramatic or emotional events, such as heroic deeds, tragic romances, or supernatural encounters. They serve as a means of storytelling, capturing cultural values and collective experiences, and have influenced many later forms of poetry, music, and literature.