Ballade

ballad; narrative poem or song

noun ba-LAH-duh Rare

Origin: from French ballade, from Old Provençal ballar (to dance)

Usage Note

Ballade is a narrative poem with dramatic content, often with a refrain, and is an important genre in German literary tradition. Famous examples by Schiller and Goethe: eine Ballade vortragen, die Balladenstrophe.

Examples

"Schillers Ballade über die Bürgschaft gehört zum Kanon der Schullektüre."

Natural Translation

Schiller's ballad about the pledge is part of the school reading canon.

Literal Translation

Schiller's ballad about the pledge belongs to the canon of school reading.

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