THE ASPECTS OF PERRY-LORD FOR POPULAR BALLADS, CONCERNING THREEANGLO-SAXON BALLADS (SIR PATRICK SPENS, LORD RANDAL, THE WIFE OF USHER’S WELL)

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Title

THE ASPECTS OF PERRY-LORD FOR POPULAR BALLADS, CONCERNING THREEANGLO-SAXON BALLADS (SIR PATRICK SPENS, LORD RANDAL, THE WIFE OF USHER’S WELL)

Author

Isaki, Fatmire

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is through properly selected examples to prove that Millman Parry and Albert Lord’s aspects of the theory of the popular ballad can be applied in the English ballads too. Perry and Lord explained how the Homeric epic and numerous popular ballads of the Balkans and traditions, could be transmitted through many generations by oral route and why have appeared formulaic principles in the way they are created and presented. Following the same procedure, we will try to show the same principles on an analysis of three Anglo-Saxon ballads: Sir Patrick Spens, Lord Randal, and The Wife of Usher's Well. Ballads will be treated according to the theory of oral-formulaic structure of the ballad. This theory suggests that the more phrases the singer knows, the higher is the chance to improvise and structure strings of verses. Ballads Sir Patrick Spens, Lord Randal, and The Wife of Usher's Well will be analyzed starting from their metric system, rhyme, and as well as locating stylistic figures used in these ballads. The paper will have a comparative approach to find similarities and differences between ballads of Balkans posed by Perry and Lord, and three Anglo-Saxon ballads. Also, this paper will analyze the themes treated in these ballads. Given that these ballads are located in two different regions with different history and culture, this paper will try to come to the conclusion that no matter that they belonged to two different traditions, histories and cultures, themes encountered in them if not identical, then many are very similar.

Keywords

Article
PeerReviewed

Publisher

International Burch University

Date

2015-12

Extent

2949

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