Ballads are typically described as which of the following?

Ballads are typically described as which of the following?

• A. An in medias res story told or sung, usually in verse, and accompanied by music
• B. A lyric about a single moment
• C. A dramatic monologue
• D. A prose narrative

Answer: (A)

Ballads are narrative songs that tell a story, usually sung and passed along orally. They often start in medias res, dropping you into the middle of the action, and are written in verse with a steady, memorable rhythm—often with a refrain. This combination of storytelling through verse that’s meant to be sung is what makes the described option the best fit. The other descriptions describe lyric poetry focused on a single moment, a dramatic monologue by one speaker, or a prose narrative, none of which capture the songlike, plot-driven nature of ballads.

Ballads are narrative songs that tell a story, usually sung and passed along orally. They often start in medias res, dropping you into the middle of the action, and are written in verse with a steady, memorable rhythm—often with a refrain. This combination of storytelling through verse that’s meant to be sung is what makes the described option the best fit. The other descriptions describe lyric poetry focused on a single moment, a dramatic monologue by one speaker, or a prose narrative, none of which capture the songlike, plot-driven nature of ballads.