Ballads of Romanticism and Realism – Linguistic Images and Moods

Goethe's famous ballad "The Erlking" is considered a prime example of Romanticism.
The story of a father riding through a dark forest at night with his sick child is intensified by vivid linguistic imagery.
Important linguistic images:
- "Who rides so late through night and wind?" – begins with an image of speed and danger in the darkness.
- The figure of the Erlking is described with seductive images from nature: "It is the father with his child; He has the boy safely in his arms"
- The streaks of fog and the dark woods emphasize the threatening atmosphere.
Effect on the mood:
- The images convey a sense of fear, uncertainty, and hopelessness.
- The personified nature (fog and wind) gives the impression that the environment itself is against the father and child.
- The dreamlike, uncanny atmosphere is heightened as the boundary between reality and imagination becomes blurred.
⚙ erlkonig

Fontane's ballad from Realism tells of the railway disaster on the Tay Bridge in Scotland. The ballad uses striking linguistic images to create a dark, foreboding mood:
Important linguistic images:
- The recurring lines "Tand, Tand is the work of human hand!" highlight the fragility of human creations.
- The forces of nature are brought to life through metaphors and personification: "The waters rise, they rise in fury", "Winds, the howling, shrieking winds".
Effect on the mood:
- The images of raging nature place the dominance and threat of the elements at the forefront.
- The regularly repeated verses create a sense of foreboding and anxiety.
- The contrast between human technology and unpredictable nature is powerfully illustrated by the linguistic imagery.
⚙ tay

In "Loreley", Heinrich Heine tells the story of the beautiful maiden who lures sailors to their doom with her singing – a typical motif of Romanticism. The ballad is rich in mood-setting images.
Important linguistic images:
- The river Rhine as a dangerous natural being: "I don't know what it means that I am so sad". The motif of the "sad" river reflects the melancholy of the speaker.
- Loreley is described with golden-blonde hair and noble jewelry. She appears as a supernatural figure.
- "The air is cool and it darkens" creates an evening, mysterious mood.
Effect on the mood:
- Nature becomes a mirror of inner feelings (longing, sadness, unattainability).
- The linguistic images create a magical but also tragic atmosphere.
- The motif of inevitable doom through Loreley is strengthened by the sensual description of her form and the natural surroundings.
⚙ loreley

This Romantic ballad describes a boy’s nighttime journey through the eerie moor. The poetic images shape the dark and oppressive mood.
Important linguistic images:
- "Gloomy fog, heavy air" immerse the moor in an oppressive atmosphere.
- Nature is personified: "In the moor, grass and reeds move", "The spirits whisper and murmur".
- The moor itself is depicted almost as a living, lurking creature.
Effect on the mood:
- The images convey great fear and a sense of being lost.
- The moor’s obscurity and threat are made almost tangible by the descriptions.
- The interplay of light, shadow, and sounds strengthens the mystical, uncanny mood and draws the reader into the boy’s feelings.
⚙ moor