Folklore comprises folkarts, folk culture and folk literature. How they developed in Tamil and what exactly do the terms refer to are explained in this lesson. Focussing on ballads, this lesson indicates which of the three divisions they belong to. Tracing the development of ballads, the lesson also mentions the different kinds of ballads. The structure, tradition and characteristics of ballads are also explained.

The seven central units deal with the origin of folklore, the rise of ballads, their definition, their names, their classification and their speciality.

In the name of popular antiquities the Westerners have been conducting researches in the antique stories and second rate literature for centuries. Thanks to William John Thomas, credited with the coining of the term 'folklore'. there has been considerable progress in its development. In India also Carlost - Gower's publication of 'South Indian folksongs' pioneered the advent of anthologies and researches in this area.

Folklore is classified as songs, stories, dances, dramas, proverbs, puzzles, ballads, games, faiths, habits, handicrafts, behaviours, rituals and mythological literature. Folk arts comprise dances, dramas and handicraft. Folk games, medicines, faiths, behaviours and worships make folk culture.

Folk literature was created and preserved by commoners. Stories, songs, ballads, proverbs, puzzles and religious stories belong to this type of folklore. Folk stories are created with a little imagination and good word-power. Like the modern novels and short stories they are in prose form but written by different persons and handed down through generations only orally, Hence changes get incorporated according to the environs.
All folk songs reflect the folk culture. However, folk ballads are different in terms of their stories and the time taken to narrate them.

Ballads are of three groups namely historical, social and religious ballads. They have special structures, traditions and characteristics.

On learning this lesson you will understand that there existed a literary folk traditions in Tamil long before they developed in many other parts of the world.