Which work is described as a ballad?

Which work is described as a ballad?

• A. Philadelphia Childhood
• B. My Father's Prayer
• C. Mrs. McWilliams and the Lightning
• D. A Ballad of Trees and the Master

Answer: (D)

Ballads are narrative poems that tell a story in a straightforward, often dramatic way, usually arranged in simple stanzas that could be sung and may include a refrain. The work whose title explicitly identifies itself as a ballad signals this form directly, and its narrative, song-like quality fits what a ballad is expected to be. That makes it the best choice because it not only names the form but also aligns with the traditional characteristics of a ballad. The other titles do not indicate the ballad form and are not presented as narrative songs in the same sense, so they don’t fit the description as clearly.

Ballads are narrative poems that tell a story in a straightforward, often dramatic way, usually arranged in simple stanzas that could be sung and may include a refrain. The work whose title explicitly identifies itself as a ballad signals this form directly, and its narrative, song-like quality fits what a ballad is expected to be. That makes it the best choice because it not only names the form but also aligns with the traditional characteristics of a ballad. The other titles do not indicate the ballad form and are not presented as narrative songs in the same sense, so they don’t fit the description as clearly.