What is the primary characteristic of a ballad?

The primary characteristic of a ballad is that it is a song that tells a story, typically structured with a four-line stanza. Ballads often narrate tales of love, tragedy, adventure, or folklore, and they employ a rhythmic and lyrical quality that makes them suitable for singing. This narrative form captures the attention of the audience and allows them to engage with the characters and events being recounted.

While expressing deep emotion and personal feelings is certainly a feature of many types of poetry, including some ballads, it does not define the ballad form itself. Similarly, although ballads can recount historical events, they do not specifically serve as a type of narrative dedicated solely to historical explanation. The humorous aspect described in some poems used in children's literature contrasts with the often serious or romantic themes found in traditional ballads. Thus, the defining feature of storytelling within a musical structure is what makes the first choice the most accurate descriptor of a ballad.