Ballad of Earl Haldan's Daughter
The Ballad of Earl Haldan's Daughter by Charles Kingsley is a ballad that tells the story of a young woman named Haldan who was betrothed to a man she did not love. She ran away from her home and took refuge in a cave, where she met a group of outlaws. The outlaws fell in love with her and decided to help her escape. They stole horses and rode off into the night, leaving Haldan behind. However, they were caught by the authorities and executed for their crimes. Haldan was left alone and heartbroken. She wandered the countryside until she came across a group of monks who took her in and taught her to read and write. She eventually became a nun and spent the rest of her life in prayer and contemplation.
By Charles Kingsley · First published 1870 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Adventure · 310 words
First lines
It was Earl Haldan's daughter, She looked across the sea; She looked across the water; And long and loud laughed she: 'The locks of six princesses Must be my marriage fee, So hey bonny boat, and ho bonny boat! Who comes a wooing me?'
It was Earl Haldan's daughter, She walked along the sand; When she was aware of a knight so fair, Came sailing to the land.
What this Textopian page supports
Ballad of Earl Haldan's Daughter is listed on Textopian as a poem by Charles Kingsley, dated 1870 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Charles Kingsley
- Date: 1870 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Adventure, Drama, Poetry
- Length: 310 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Ballad of Earl Haldan's Daughter by Charles Kingsley
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Ballad of Earl Haldan's Daughter?
- How does this poem by Charles Kingsley fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The book revolves around the story of Earl Haldan's daughter, suggesting a historical timeframe. Kingsley is known for his historical novels, and this theme is prominent in the book.
- Romance — The book revolves around the story of a woman and her relationships, which is a cornerstone of the romance genre.
- Adventure — The story navigates through various trials and tribulations faced by Earl Haldan's daughter. It is full of adventurous events.
- Drama — The interactions between characters create a lot of dramatic situations within the storyline.
Tags
ballad · poetry · narrative · romance · adventure · folklore · mythology · historical · drama · family · loss · identity