A ballad is a narrative poem that tells a story. 民谣是讲述故事的叙事性诗歌。 (1) There are certain basic characteristics common to a large number of ballads: 民谣通常具有以下几个特点： ①The beginning is often abrupt as the listeners must be familiar with the characters and the story of the ballad. 开头通常是开门见山的，因为听众一般都熟悉民谣中的人物和故事。 ②There are strong dramatic elements. Usually a ballad deals with a single episode. 具有很强的叙事元素。通常一首民谣讲述一个事情片段。 ③The story is often told through dialogue and action. 经常通过对话和动作来讲述故事。 ④The theme is often tragic, though there are a number of comic ballads. 通常是悲剧主题，尽管也有为数不少的喜剧民谣。