Essay Questions

What is a ballad?

A ballad refers to a long poem, often a narrative one, that can be put on music. The genre originated in France but became extremely popularly in England in the medieval times. The ballads became even more popular during the Romantic period when the authors would present often mythological stories in which men set on an important quest to gain fame. The characters also try to prove their braveness through the said quests. This characteristics are also found in the "Ballad of the Long-Legged Bait’’.

Why were whales hunted?

Whale hunting was a common practice in the past and it was one of the main jobs a sailor had. Whale hunting was a dangerous job and the sailors put their lives in danger to hunt them. In the past, whale hunting was extremely profitable because the meat and blubber produced where extremely expensive. The blubber in particular, fat storage found in great quantities in a whale, was used as an insulator, was to add buoyancy and also to make oil used in various industries and in the alimentary industry.

Why is the sea portrayed as being a woman in the poem "Ballad of the Long-Legged Bait’’?

For an extremely long time, women were associated with negative aspects and were attributed the power of being able to seduce men and lead them to their doom. The sea is portrayed as a woman because no one can deny its beauty and the danger it poses. Just like a beautiful woman can seduce a man, the sea seduced countless people who eventually died because of their passion. Thus, by portraying the sea as being a woman the narrator wanted to transmit the idea that while the sea was beautiful, it was also dangerous.