A ballad is essentially a narrative poem. It tells a story, often in a simple and direct way, and often focuses on a single dramatic event. Ballads are often associated with folk traditions and were originally meant to be sung or recited aloud. The narrative structure of a ballad makes it well-suited to storytelling, and it often features a strong sense of plot and character development. While ballads can be descriptive and include elements of drama or pastoral settings, at their core, they are primarily focused on telling a story through verse.