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.