Definition: The ballad is a form of short poem that is often passed down from one generation to the next (in what was first intended to be a melodic, or singing tradition). The earliest forms of the ballad are known as folk ballads.
Common Misspellings: balad, balla
Examples: "Edward" is a folk ballad dating to the Middle Ages. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a famous example of the literary ballad.
