Ballad Tour

This lecture traces the history of the ballad as a literary form from the Highlands of Scotland, with ballads such as “Barbara Allen,” “Edward, Edward,” “Scarborough Fair,” and the ballads of Robert Burns to America and the development of country music.

We will look at classics such as “Harper Valley P.T.A.” and “Ode to Billie Joe” and look at literary ballads from Langston Hughes, including one written by the speaker. We will also look at the form itself and discuss how to write a ballad.

March 9 at Brookville Library at 4:30 p.m.