Ballad Themes and Role Relationships:

Overview (1.9)

David G. Engle

[100 OFFERS, REQUESTS, DEMANDS]

110 Seduction & Courtship I (among lovers)

115 Erotic Encounters and Acts

120 Courtship II (lovers vis-à-vis family or "others")

125 Promises & Vows

140 Approbation

151 Helping Hand: Actions

152 Helping Hand: Tangibles

153 Helping Hand: Compassion

154 Simple Demand for Justice

155 Permission

156 Advice & Warning

157 Companionship

170 Deals

180 Hiring, Enlisting

[200 OBLIGATIONS, COMMITMENTS, EXPECTATIONS]

210 Romantic Responsibilities

220 Kinship Responsibilities

225 Promises [obsolete, see 125]

235 Interdictions (Express Tabus)

240 Tasks Imposed

245 Mores & Morals

260 The Law

270 Wagers, Deals

280 Occupational Responsibilities,

290 Affiliations

[300 DEPARTURES, QUESTS]

310 Elopements, Abductions, Enticements

320 Departures and Farewells

330 Escapes & Desertions

340 The Ride

[400 CONTESTS]

410 Verbal Contests

420 Self-Transformation

430 Concealment or Hiding

440 Tricks, Deceptions, Ploys

445 Boast, Challenge, Insult

450 Physical Combat, Duels, War

460 Pursuits, Hunts

470 Games of Chance and Skill

490 Reversal of Situation or Role

[500 JOURNALLISTIC ACCOUNTS, ORDEALS, ADVERSITY]

520 Outsiders

540 Mistreatment

550 Abuse

560 Confinement, Isolation

571 Travel

572 Employment

573 Feats

574 Good and Bad Times

575 Biographies

576 Historical or Political Events

577 Calendrical Events

578 Simple Encounters or Sightings

580 Disability

585 Shortcomings

590 Complaints or Laments

[600 DEATH AND DISASTER]

610 Harm, (Contrived) Disaster

620 Accidents, Strokes of Fate

630 Death

635 Sympathetic Death, Suicide

640 Last Farewells

650 Killing

660 Execution

[700 SOCIAL EVENTS]

710 Dances

720 Funerals

750 Conviviality, Celebrations, Repasts

[800 DISCOVERIES, INFORMATION AND CONNECTIONS]

810 Discoveries

815 Messages

823 Return

824 Arrival

850 Captures & Claimings

[900 JUSTICE]

910 Accusation

950 Trial

960 Retribution

[000 METAPHORICAL NARRATIVES]

1000 Love, Erotic Metaphors

2000 Domestic Metaphors

3000 Political Metaphors

4000 Religious Metaphors

ROLE RELATIONSHIPS

among the ACTORS

L Lovers

F Family

O Occupational & Economic Figures

I Institutional Figures

V Victims (and Helpers and Wrongdoers)

R Religious and Supernatural Figures

A or N Animals, Natural Things (Plants, Stars, Streams, etc.)

C Contestants

G Gratuitous Figures