Final answer:
A narrative poem that imitates old anonymous folk ballads is known as a ballad, traditionally written in quatrains with an ABCB rhyme scheme. Compared to sonnets or haiku, ballads are distinct in their narrative form and connection to oral, musical roots. The ballad's structure and lyrical qualities highlight its unique place in poetry.
Step-by-step explanation:
A narrative poem that is created by a poet in imitation of the old anonymous folk ballad is simply known as a ballad. Ballads traditionally follow a specific stanzaic form, typically quatrains, and often incorporate rhyme schemes, commonly ABCB, where the first and third lines contain eight syllables and the second and fourth lines contain six. The content usually deals with romantic, tragic, or heroic stories that are passed down orally across generations before finally being transcribed. Muriel Rukeyser\u2019s poetry is a modern example of a ballad that respects this format while introducing contemporary themes and elements.
In comparison to other forms of poetry, such as the sonnet with its fourteen lines and a volta, or the haiku with its three-line 5-7-5 syllable pattern, the ballad's structure is quite distinctive and aims at narrating a tale. Unlike these forms, which cater to specific cultural contexts or poetic traditions, the ballad's accessibility and use of repeated phrases and alliteration connect it to its oral, musical roots. The epic too follows the narrative form but is typically much longer and grander in scale than the ballad.
The iambic and trochaic rhythms found in ballads give them a lyrical quality that can make them conducive to singing, connecting back to the ballad's historical role in storytelling and musical performance. Through its narrative form, the ballad stands apart from non-narrative poetry, offering its unique contribution to the poet's repertoire.