Decide whether the options are Ballad or Villanelle

Question

rhyme sync of ABCB
second line of each stanza rhymes
mostly three-line stanzas
all four-lines stanzas

Answer 1

To determine whether the options refer to a Ballad or a Villanelle, let's break down their characteristics:

1. Ballad:

   • Typically follows a rhyme scheme of ABCB.
   • Often consists of quatrains (four-line stanzas).
   • Can also include three-line stanzas (though less common).
   • Tends to tell a story.

2. Villanelle:

   • A 19-line form consisting of five tercets (three-line stanzas) followed by a quatrain (four-line stanza).
   • It has a specific rhyme scheme of ABA and a repeating structure.
   • The second line of the first stanza is repeated as the last line of the second and fourth tercets and then appears again as the last line of the quatrain.

Based on your options:

• Rhyme scheme of ABCB: This aligns with a Ballad.
• Second line of each stanza rhymes: This is not a typical feature of either form in the traditional sense; however, if interpreted loosely, it might suggest a variation in a Ballad.
• Mostly three-line stanzas: This leans more towards a Villanelle, but since Ballads are often in quatrains and can include three-line stanzas, it doesn't definitively categorize it.
• All four-line stanzas: This is a clear characteristic of a Ballad.

In conclusion:

• If you have "rhyme scheme of ABCB" and "all four-line stanzas," it clearly indicates a Ballad.
• If you lean towards "mostly three-line stanzas" or "second line of each stanza rhymes," it suggests other forms but could be variations in a Ballad.

Therefore, the options can mainly be categorized as a Ballad with the provided details.