Sin and punishment in folk ballads

Kríza, Ildikó (2002) Sin and punishment in folk ballads. Acta Ethnographica Hungarica, 47 (1-2). pp. 51-59. ISSN 1216-9803

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Abstract

The value of virginity and the value of wealth are two types of human attitudes in Medieval Age, reflected in folk ballads. Both make conflicts among people and appear in folklore. 1. In the ballad the girl who offers her virginity to deliver the condemned to death is furious, when she realises that her offer was in vain. 2. In the ballad of the heartless mother, in case of danger, the mother leaves the children alone in the woods and runs away with her money. The specific meaning of ballad text originates from textual context, explained by actions in tragic attitutde and by catharctic emotions at the end. Moral issues in ballads are close to the Christian rules, they are understandable in cultural, historical and textual contexts. In ballads the lonely persons stand in the focus of action and the hero/heroine are responsible for their own sin. By strong passion a hero can cause sin. The ethical norms of society are against those who are not obedient.

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