Literature II -poetry (Deadline: 10/06)

Ballads:

1. Read Sir Patrick Spens (p.178, Forms of Poetry, FP). Before looking up words, check the following websites:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt0PwHKllmc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs7nWKYyUFU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAxDaHe3V0U&NR=1

Notice the different ways of pronunciation, and some changes in the lyrics.

2. Read the following background info:

Motherwell was the first to suggest a historical foundation for the ballad. Margaret, the daughter of Alexander III, was married to Eric, King of Norway, in 1281. That August several knights and nobles drowned in the return voyage. When Alexander died in 1286, Margaret's infant daughter, (also named Margaret) called "The Maid of Norway," was heir to the Scottish throne. Edward I of England proposed a match between his son and the Maid of Norway. Princess Margaret died on the voyage. The ballad takes elements from both events.
Another connection between Scotland and Norway is the fact that James III married the daughter of the King of Norway in 1469, but Child believes this has less material for a ballad that either of the above cases.
In the ballad Sir Patrick objects to sailing. This may have been due to the time of the year, but according to Percy there was also a law in the reign of James III which forbid ships to travel with goods out of the realm from the feast of Simon and Jude and Candlemas (October 28-February 2).
The name of Spens occurs in five charters during David II's reign (between 1329 and 1370). A Patrick Spens was a shipmaster who was lost off Aberdour in the late 16th century. Sir Andrew Wood was an admiral, though he was born two centuries after the events related above. Given the lack of historical record, Child does not consider the ballad historical.
Alternate titles and variants include: Sir Patrick Spense, Sir Andrew Wood, Young Patrick, Skipper Patrick, Earl Patricke Spensse, Sir Patrick and Earl Patrick Graham. There is also a Scandinavian ballad Sir Peter's Voyage.
For a complete list of Child Ballads at this site see Francis J. Child Ballads
http://www.contemplator.com/child/spens.html

3. After following instructions on 1 and 2 above, re read Sir Patrick Spens and notice the characteristics of the traditional ballad in it: use of dialogue, leaping and lingering technique, telling details, use of repetition or incremental repetition.

4. Write an essay of at least two paragraphs and email it to the following: gabymasson@gmail.com

One paragraph should deal with the characteristics of the traditional ballad as seen in Sir Patrick Spens (quote the necessary line/s to explain them)
The other paragraph should include a comparison of the different youtube videos that you watched in 1 above.

5 Enjoy it!!!