Which of the following best describes ballads?

Ballads are indeed best described as songlike poems that tell a story. This form of poetry often has a musical quality, making it suitable for singing, which can be traced back to their origins in oral tradition. Traditionally, ballads narrate tales of love, adventure, tragedy, or heroic deeds, often with a straightforward plot and characters. They typically utilize a regular meter and rhyme scheme, which contributes to their lyrical quality and ease of memorization. This storytelling aspect is what distinguishes ballads from other forms of poetry, such as reflective or emotional poems, allowing them to convey narratives that engage readers or listeners through rhythm and repetition.