Formulaicity in Child Ballads as a Means to Express Assertiveness

Oral traditions resort to formulas not only for memorability, but also to transmit meaning of socio-historical import. In the case of Child ballads, ‘she kilted her kirtle’ and ‘she took her mantle her about’ serve to construct an image of powerful women. Thus, at least in some ballads in English, the stereotype of passive women breaks down.