How many lines are there in a ballad?

As a field expert in literature and poetry, I am well-versed in the various forms and structures that have been used throughout history to craft poetic works. One such form that has captured the imagination of many is the ballad, a narrative poem that often tells a story with a simple, catchy tune. Ballads have been a staple in oral traditions and have been used to convey tales of love, adventure, and tragedy.
The structure of a ballad can vary, but the most common form is the ballad stanza, which is indeed a quatrain—a four-line stanza. This particular structure is characterized by its alternating lines of four and three metrical stresses, which gives it a rhythmic and memorable quality. The rhyme scheme is also a key feature of the ballad stanza, with the most prevalent pattern being the a/b/c/b rhyme scheme, where the second and fourth lines of each stanza rhyme.
However, it's important to note that while the quatrain is the most typical form of a ballad stanza, ballads can have a variety of lengths depending on the number of stanzas they contain. A ballad may consist of just a few stanzas or extend to many pages, with each stanza contributing to the unfolding narrative. The length of a ballad is not fixed and can be as short as a single stanza or as long as an epic poem, depending on the story being told and the poet's intentions.
The ballad form has been used in many cultures and languages, and it has evolved over time. In English literature, for example, the ballad form was popularized during the Middle Ages and continues to be a recognizable and beloved form today. Poets have experimented with the ballad form, sometimes expanding it to include more complex rhyme schemes or varying the length of the lines within a stanza.
One of the most famous examples of a ballad is "Edward," which is also known as "The Bonny Earl of Murray." This ballad tells a tragic love story and follows the traditional a/b/c/b rhyme scheme. Another well-known ballad is "Sir Patrick Spens," which recounts the tale of a doomed voyage and also adheres to the ballad stanza structure.
In conclusion, while a ballad stanza is traditionally a four-line stanza known as a quatrain with a specific rhyme and stress pattern, the overall length of a ballad is determined by the number of stanzas it includes. Ballads can be as brief or as extensive as the narrative requires, making them a flexible and enduring form of poetic expression.

In poetry, a Ballad stanza is the four-line stanza, known as a quatrain, most often found in the folk ballad. This form consists of alternating four- and three-stress lines. Usually only the second and fourth lines rhyme (in an a/b/c/b pattern).