Folk Song. A folk song is a traditional or composed song typically made up of stanzas, a refrain, and a simple melody. Folk songs are expressions of commonly shared ideas or feelings and may be narrative or lyric in style. Traditional folk songs, such as “Scarborough Fair,” are anonymous songs that have been passed down orally. “Scarborough Fair,” in fact, probably came from an even earlier ballad, “The Elfin King,” which was spoken or written in Middle English, and has many different variations. Why would people pass this song down through the generations?
Ballad. A ballad is a simple poem that tells a story. Most ballads have four-line stanzas that have the rhyme scheme abcb (the second and fourth lines rhyme but the first and third do not). Sometimes the last line of a stanza is repeated. In music, a ballad is considered a song that tells a story, or a story told in song. In what ways does “Scarborough Fair” fit the definition of a ballad?
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• Scarborough is a town in east-central England. Founded before the year 1000 by Viking raiders, the town developed mainly as a fishing center. As the town grew and became a major port, trade fairs became an important part of Scarborough life. From the 1200 to the 1700s, the Scarborough Fair was a six-week trading festival that attracted merchants and others from all over Europe. The fair ran from Assumption Day, the 15th of August, to Michaelmas Day, the 29th of September.
• Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme are some of the most commonly used herbs in cooking and in herbal remedies. Parsley is a biennial plant, meaning it grows for two years, blooming the second year. It has curly leaves and a distinctive flavor and scent that make it popular in cooking. In the Middle Ages, it was used as a remedy for stomach ailments. Sage is a large, woody plant with greyish-green leaves. It is often used in stuffings and was used in early Europe for many purposes. Rosemary is a hardy evergreen shrub. Its fresh leaves are used in a variety of dishes. Its oil has long been used in medicines. Thyme is a perennial plant that comes up every year. It has aromatic leaves and small purple flowers. Thyme has long been a popular cooking herb.
For each stanza of “Scarborough Fair,” make a sketch of the part of the story the stanza narrates.
Think of a person you haven’t seen in awhile. What messages would you want to convey to that person if you could?
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