Which is not an element of the ballad stanza?

The question is a bit tricky! A ballad stanza *can* take many forms, but there are common elements that are usually present.

To answer definitively, we need to know what options you're given. But here are the key elements that are often found in ballad stanzas:

* Four lines

* Alternating rhyme scheme (ABAB or ABCB)

* Iambic tetrameter (four beats per line) This can sometimes vary, but it's common.

* Simple language and direct storytelling

Here are some things that are *not* always part of a ballad stanza:

* Specific number of syllables per line While iambic tetrameter is common, variations exist.

* A strict meter throughout the entire ballad Sometimes ballads will have different stanza forms within them.

Let me know the answer options you have, and I can help you pinpoint the one that isn't typically a part of a ballad stanza.