What is a narrative poem written in four-line stanzas called?

A narrative poem written in four-line stanzas is identified as a ballad. Ballads traditionally tell a story, often reflecting themes of love, tragedy, or adventure, and they typically use a simple rhyme scheme and meter that enhances their musical quality. The four-line stanza structure, also known as quatrains, is characteristic of many ballads, allowing for rhythmic repetition that aids in storytelling.

In contrast to a ballad, an ode is a form of lyrical poetry that expresses deep feelings or thoughts regarding a person, place, or event, often in elaborate and formal language. A sestina, on the other hand, is a complex poetic form that consists of six stanzas of six lines each, followed by a three-line envoi, with specific patterns of word repetition. An epic is a lengthy narrative poem that often recounts the adventures of heroic figures and is written in a more elevated style, often containing multiple stanzas of varying lengths rather than a strict four-line structure.