Task

Open the 2.03 Ballad worksheet. Choose a clean modern-day song that tells a story. If you need help, you may choose one of the options below.

  • “Because of You,” Kelly Clarkson
  • “Dust in the Wind,” Kansas
  • “Imagine,” John Lennon
  • “Somebody to Love,” Queen
  • “Someone Like You,” Adele
  • “Candle in the Wind,” Elton John
  • “Let It Be,” Beatles
  • “Me and Bobby McGee,” Janis Joplin
  • “Listen,” Beyonce”
  • “Dopefiend’s Diner,” Tupac
  • “Just the Way You Are,” Bruno Mars
  • “Heartbreak Hotel,” Whitney Houston
  • “Beautiful,” Christina Aguilera
  • “One,” U2
  • “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” Simon and Garfunkel

Read and/or listen to your song.  Then, answer the following questions.

  1. Who is your song about?
  2. What is the song about?
  3. When did it take place?  Is there a particular season, month, time?
  4. Where did the events happen?
  5. Why did it happen?
  6. How did it happen?

 

In one well-written paragraph, answer the following questions.  Cite passages from the ballad and your song to support your answer.

  • How does the theme of one of the Middle Age ballads compare to a song of today? 
  • Does it convey some of the same themes? 

 

Next, choose an incident in your life and write a ballad about it. Your ballad may be about any of the topics that are usually found in a ballad:

  • family quarrels
  • love
  • love gone wrong
  • jealousy
  • bravery
  • loyalty
  • revenge
  • adventure
  • death
  • war
  • fear of the unknown

Open the 2.03 Ballad Rubric for additional directions.

When you are finished, submit your completed work to the 2.03 Ballad Dropbox.

 

 

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