DBK: Der Deutsche Balladenkatalog - German Ballad Catalog
Complete Thesaurus of Ballad Themes, Narrative Units, their Aspects
and of the Role Relationships among the Dramatis Personae
David G. Engle
(DBK version 2.3.1)
List of narrative Themes, their Narrative Units & Aspects
100 OFFERS, REQUESTS, DEMANDS
110 Courtship & Seduction I (among lovers)
115 Erotic Encounters and Acts
120 Courtship II (lovers vis-à-vis family or "others")
125 Promises & Vows
140 Approbation (Reward, Praise)
150 Helping Hand (Mercy, Help, Rescue, Intercession, Advice; s. below 151-157)
151 Actions: help, assistance, intercession, rescue
152 Tangibles: aid, succor (material)
153 Compassion, Mercy, Pity, Forgiveness, Release
154 Simple Demand for Justice
155 Permission
156 Advice & Warning
157 Companionship
170 Deals, Wagers, Bargains, Contracts, Indenture, Plans
180 Hiring, Enlisting, Workers and Bosses
200 OBLIGATIONS, COMMITMENTS, EXPECTATIONS
210 Romantic or Marital Relationships
220 Kinship Responsibilities
225 Promises & Vows B
235 Interdictions (Express Tabus)
240 Tasks Imposed
245 Mores & Morals / Loyalty & Betrayal
250 Rewards, Praise
260 The Law
270 Deals, Wagers, Bargains, Contracts, Pacts,
280 Employment, Occupational Responsibilities,
290 Affiliations (religious, political, or ideological)
300 DEPARTURES, QUESTS
310 Elopements, Abductions, Enticements
320 Embarking, Departures and Farewells; Quests; Separation
330 Escapes, Desertions, Flight
340 The Ride
400 CONTESTS
(Psychological Contests)
410 Verbal Contests
420 Self-Transformation: Costuming, Disguise, Transformation
430 Concealment or Hiding
440 Tricks, (Deceptions, Ploys, Ruses, Entrapments, Lies)
445 Taunt, Boast, Insult, Challenge, Triumph
(Physical Contests)
450 Physical Contests, War, Combat, Contests, Physical Competition
451 One against Many
452 Duel, Single Combat, Fights
454 Wars, Group Combat, Feuds, Brawls
(other Contests)
460 Pursuit, Hunts
470 Games of Chance and Skill; Competitions; Sports; Contests of Prowess;
490 Reversal of Situation or Role
500 JOURNALISTIC ACCOUNTS, ORDEALS, ADVERSITY
520 Outsiders' Life: Outlawry, Abandonment, Orphanage, Ostracism, Poverty
540 Mistreatment
550 Abuse
560 Confinement (as Captivity or as Reclusion or Possession)
(Journalistic accounts of undertakings, hardship & prosperity:)
571 Incidents, Hazards and Fortunes of Travel
572 Incidents, Hazards and Fortunes of Employment,
573 Feats
574 Good and Bad Times
575 Life-Cycle Events or Biographies
576 Historical or Political Events
577 Calendrical Events
578 Simple Encounters or Sightings
(Disabilities and shortcomings:)
580 Disability
585 Shortcomings
590 Complaints or Laments
600 DEATH AND DISASTER
610 Disasters (Contrived)
620 Accidents, Strokes of Fate, and (natural) Catastrophes
630 Death
635 Sympathetic Death or Madness, Suicide
640 Last Farewells (Death-Bed)
650 Killing, Murder, Manslaughter
660 Execution, Gallows Scene
700 SOCIAL EVENTS AND INCIDENTS
710 Dances
720 Funerals
750 Conviviality, Celebrations, Repasts
800 DISCOVERIES, INFORMATION AND CONNECTIONS
810 Discoveries, (Non-)Recognitions, Tests
815 Messages (Reports, Visions, & Oracles)
820 Arrivals & Reunions
823 Return, Arrival, Reunion
824 Arrival as a Stranger
850 Captures & Claimings
900 JUSTICE: RIGHT AND REVENGE
910 Accusation (Denunciations, Deliveries, Reproaches, Confessions)
950 Trial
960 Retribution (Punishment, Revenge, Pay-Back)
000 METAPHORICAL NARRATIVES
001 Love, Erotic Metaphors
002 Domestic Metaphors
003 Political Metaphors
004 Religious Metaphors
005 Other Metaphors
List of Roles and Relationships
(Categories of Dramatic Principals & their Role Relationships)
L Lovers:
F Family:
O Occupational/Economic Relationships:
I Institutional Figures:
V Victims (including their Helpers and Wrong-Doers):
S Supernatural, Religious Figures:
N Nature, Animals, Plants :
C Contestants and Combatants:
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G Gratuitous Figures: