Hackelnberg

By Madison Julius Cawein

Ballad
    When down the Hartz the echoes swarm     He rides beneath the sounding storm     With mad "halloo!" and wild alarm      Of hound and horn - a wonder,     With his hunter black as night,     Ban-dogs fleet and fast as light,     And a stag as silver white     Drives before, like mist, in flight,      Glimmering 'neath the bursten thunder.     The were-wolf shuns his ruinous track,     Long-howling hid in braken black;     Around the forests reel and crack      And mountain torrents tumble;     And the spirits of the air     Whistling whirl with scattered hair,     Teeth that flash and eyes that glare,     'Round him as he chases there      With a noise of rains that rumble.     From thick Thuringian thickets growl     Fierce, fearful monsters black and foul;     And close before him a stritch-owl      Wails like a ghost unquiet:     Then the clouds aside are driven     And the moonlight, stormy striven.     Falls around the castle riven     Of the Dumburg, and the heaven      Maddens then with blacker riot.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a vivid exploration of the sublime in nature, focusing on a thrilling and somewhat terrifying chase through a stormy landscape. The language is rich and evocative, carrying the reader along with the frenetic pace of the hunt. The theme is one of wildness, of humanity against the elements and the unknown, which is personified in the form of mythical and natural creatures, such as the "were-wolf," the "stritch-owl," and the "monsters black and foul."

Structurally, the poem is consistent in its rhythm and rhyme, which serves to heighten the sense of urgency and relentless momentum. This is complemented by the poet's use of onomatopoeia ("halloo!"), sensory description, and striking imagery, conjuring an atmosphere that is at once exhilarating and foreboding. The tone is dramatic and intense, reflecting the cacophony and chaos of the hunt, the storm, and the surrounding wilderness.

Overall, this poem is a powerful portrayal of man's primal instincts and his tumultuous relationship with the natural world, marked by both awe and fear. The poet skillfully employs a range of literary devices to create a suspenseful, immersive experience, which resonates with the reader long after the final verse.

Understanding Ballads

A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music, that has been a cornerstone of storytelling across various cultures. Traditionally passed down orally, ballads are known for their rhythmic structure and often tell tales of love, adventure, and heroism.

Ballads are characterized by their strong rhythm and repetition, making them both memorable and engaging. Here are some defining features:

  • Narrative Structure: Ballads typically tell a story, often a dramatic or emotional tale that unfolds in a straightforward, chronological order.
  • Quatrain Stanzas: Most ballads are composed of quatrains (four-line stanzas) with a rhyme scheme of ABAB or ABCB, which adds to the musicality of the verse.
  • Repetition: Refrains or repeated lines are common in ballads, helping to emphasize key themes or emotions and making the ballad easier to remember.
  • Oral Tradition: Many ballads originated from oral traditions, which means they were passed down through generations by word of mouth before being written down.

From medieval minstrels to contemporary songwriters, ballads have continued to evolve, remaining a beloved form of expression that captures the human experience in a way that is both poetic and accessible.