What's the difference between English literature ballads and epics?

Differences between English literary ballads and epics;

1, different themes. Literary folk songs include folk songs and ballads, and the themes are mainly sacrificial songs, love songs, current political songs, children's songs or political satire and superstition. The epic theme of national origin, national migration, national war and immortal achievements of national heroes.

2. Different forms. Folk songs adopt folk style in form, that is, four lines of rhyme, two or four rhymes, one or three lines of four steps, two or four lines of three steps, so as to enhance the musical effect. Heroic epic is a kind of poem with a long narrative style, which tells the story or deeds of heroes (from history or mythology).