English Stew: English Lit

Thursday, February 28, 2019

English Lit

Please read page 105 of your textbooks. Here are some questions for when you finish:
1. What is a folk ballad?
2. Popular themes of folk ballads include disappointed love, jealousy, revenge, sudden disaster, and adventurous deeds. How are these stories developed, and why can they be a little puzzling?

3. Define refrain and incremental repetition as they are used in folk ballads.

Why English Stew?

Why call this blog English Stew? Well, I've always thought that the English language is very much like a stew - thick, hearty, and satisfying! Its ingredients are a mixture of all the other languages and cultures with which it has come into contact over the past 1500 years: from the invading Germanic and Scandinavian tribes to the Norman French conquerors to more far-flung groups met during the age of exploration and colonization. Used by over a billion people every day, it is the international language of commerce. English is also vast - a truly global dish with one of the most extensive vocabularies of all the world's languages. It is estimated that over 25,000 new words are added each year (that's about 70 a day). The power and popularity of our language stems from this dynamism and flexibility. No bite is ever the same!

Thursday, February 28, 2019

English Lit

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