Which type of poem often tells a story or recounts events, typically in a rhythmic format?

A ballad is a type of poem that is known for telling a story or recounting events, often in a rhythmic format. These poems typically have a musical quality and often include elements such as a meter and rhyme scheme that enhance their lyrical nature. Ballads often focus on themes of love, tragedy, or historical events, making them a storytelling medium that engages listeners and readers alike.

In contrast, a haiku is a traditional Japanese form of poetry that consists of three lines with a specific syllable pattern, focusing more on nature and often evoking a moment in time rather than narrating a story. A sonnet is a 14-line poem that generally explores themes of love or beauty, following a specific rhyme scheme and structure that limits its narrative capacity. An elegy is a form of poetry that expresses mourning or lamentation, typically for someone who has passed away, and while it may share some narrative qualities, its primary purpose is to convey grief rather than to tell a story. Thus, the ballad stands out as the form that most distinctly serves the function of storytelling within poetry.