PROSE

(LAMOSTE, JOBERT)

Definition:
Prose is a form of written or spoken language that follows a natural flow of speech
and grammatical structure, unlike poetry, which often has a more structured meter and
rhythm. Prose encompasses a wide range of writing styles, including novels, short
stories, essays, articles, and everyday conversation.

Explanation;
Prose is a versatile form of literature that is used multitude of purpose such as
storytelling, or a casual conversation. Everyday in our lives, we practice this as we go
on about our day, weather in a casual or formal settings.

2 Types of Prose- The Fiction, and Non-Fiction

I. Fiction

Definition:
Literature in the form of prose that describes imaginary events and people.

Explanation:
Fictional prose is a narrative form that incorporates imaginative elements and creative
storytelling. It is not bound by real-life accuracy but instead explores invented
scenarios, characters, and settings. This genre leverages human creativity to craft
stories that, while not literally true, can offer profound insights into the human
experience and evoke a range of emotions and ideas.

Examples of Fictional Prose

1. Novel: A long work of narrative fiction typically longer than a novella and
characterized by a complex plot, well-developed characters, and multiple settings.

Example:
a. Frankenstein (Mary Shelly, 1818)
b. To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee, 1960)
c. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott, 1868)

2. Novella: A shorter work of fiction than a novel but longer than a story, often
focusing on a single character or event.

Example:
a. Heart of Darkness (Joseph Conrad, 1899)
b. The Old Man and the Sea (Ernest Hemingway, 1952)
c. Animal Farm (1945)
3. Short Story: A brief work of fiction that typically revolves around a single plot or
character, with a concise and focused narrative.

Example:
a. The Gift of the Magic (O. Henry, 1905)
b. The Tell-Tale Heart (Edgar Allan Poe, 1843)
c. The Yellow Paper (Charlotte Perkins Gilman, 1892)

Now let us take a pause for a minute and ask ourselves, What makes the difference
between, a novel, novella, and a short-story?

The primary difference between a novel, novella, and short story is their length,
which affects their structure and the depth of storytelling. Here’s a quick rundown:

I. Novel: Typically, a novel is a long work of fiction, usually over 40,000 words,
and often much longer. It allows for complex plots, multiple characters, and
detailed world-building. Novels often explore themes and character development
in depth, and can range from about 100 to 500 pages or more.
II. Novella: A novella is shorter than a novel but longer than a short story,
generally ranging from about 17,000 to 40,000 words. It offers enough space to
develop characters and plot more thoroughly than a short story but is more
focused and condensed than a full-length novel. Novellas often have a single,
coherent theme or conflict.
III. Short Story: Short stories are brief, usually under 20,000 words, and often
focus on a single incident or character. They aim to create a powerful impact or
explore a particular theme or moment within a limited space. The brevity of short
stories requires a concise and focused narrative.

Each form has its own strengths and can be used to achieve different kinds of
storytelling.

4. Historical Fiction: Fiction set in a specific historical period, often incorporating

real events, people, and settings into fictional narratives.

Example:
a. Wolf Hall (Hilary Mantel, 2009)
b. The Book Thief (Markus Zusak, 2005)
c. I, Claudius (Robert Graves, 1934)

5. Science Fiction (Sci-Fi): Fiction that explores imaginative and futuristic concepts,
often involving advanced science and technology, space exploration, or alternate
realities.

Example:
a. Dune (Frank Herbert, 1965)
b. Enders Game (Orson Scott Card, 1985)
c. The Martian (Andy Weir, 2011)

6. Fantasy: Fiction characterized by magical or supernatural elements, often set in

imaginary worlds with their own rules and mythologies.
Example:
a. Harry Potter (J.K Rowling)
b. Game Of Thrones (George R.R. Martin)
c. Lord Of The Rings (JRR. Tolkien)

7. Mystery: Fiction focused on solving a crime or unraveling a puzzle, often featuring

a detective or amateur sleuth as a protagonist.

Example:
a. The Woman in White (Wilkie Collins)
b. Murders in the Rue Morgue (Edgar Allan Poe)
c. Rebecca (Daphne du Maurier)

8. Thriller: Fiction characterized by suspense, excitement, and often involving

danger or high-stakes situations that keep readers on edge.

Example:
a. Psychological Thriller
b. Crime Thriler
c. The Shining (Stephen King)

9. Romance: Fictional stories focused on a romantic relationship between characters,

typically emphasizing emotions, relationships, and love.

Example:
a. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
b. Outlander ((Diana Gabaldon)
c. Me Before You (Jojo Moyes)

10. Horror: Fiction intended to evoke fear, dread, or unease in reader, often through
supernatural elements, monsters, or psychological suspense.

Example:
a. The Haunting of Hill House (Shirley Jackson, 1959)
b. The Woman in Black (Susan Hill, 1983)
c. Come Closer (Sara Gran, 2003

Discuss the distiction: Mystery, thriller, and horror are distinct genres, though they
can overlap in some ways. Here’s a breakdown of their differences:

I. Mystery:

Focus: The central element of a mystery is the puzzle or problem that needs to be
solved. Typically, a mystery involves a crime or enigma that the protagonist, often a
detective or amateur sleuth, works to unravel.
Structure: Mysteries usually follow a structured format where clues are revealed
gradually, leading to a final resolution. The satisfaction comes from seeing how the
protagonist pieces together the clues and solves the case.

Tone: While mysteries can have suspenseful or dark elements, they are generally
more focused on intellectual engagement and problem-solving.

II. Thriller:

Focus: Thrillers are designed to evoke excitement and tension. The main emphasis is
on creating a high level of suspense and keeping the reader on the edge of their seat.

Structure: Thrillers often involve a high-stakes situation, such as a looming danger or

a race against time. The plot is fast-paced with twists and turns, and the tension is
usually more action-oriented.

Tone: Thrillers often have a sense of urgency and can be intense or adrenaline-fueled.
They might involve criminal activities, espionage, or other high-stakes scenarios.

III. Horror:

Focus: Horror is centered around eliciting fear, dread, or terror. The aim is to invoke a
strong emotional reaction, often through supernatural elements, psychological terror,
or disturbing scenarios.

Structure: Horror stories might include elements of mystery or thriller but are
primarily concerned with creating a chilling atmosphere and exploring the macabre.
They often involve an antagonist or force that embodies fear.

Tone: Horror has a darker tone, often dealing with themes like death, the supernatural,
or the unknown. It seeks to disturb or unsettle the reader, sometimes using shock
value or unsettling imagery.

While these genres have their distinct characteristics, a single story might blend
elements from all three to create a unique reading experience. For instance, a horror
thriller might combine the suspense of a thriller with the eerie atmosphere of horror.

(Summary: Mystery is about solving a puzzle. Thriller is about action and suspense.
Horror is about inducing fear.)
(NIRZA, SHYEN M)

11. Adventure: As children, we often dreamed of witnessing fire-breathing dragons,

going into Hogwarts, see the different creatures of Narnia, and riding on a broomstick.
This is perhaps we all desire to go on an adventure. Since it may not be possible, we
can always live in that dream by reading adventure fiction.
- a fiction that revolves around a journey, quest / exploration

Examples: Treasure Island, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Tarzan, Jungle Book,
Life of Pi, Lord of the Rings, etc.

12. Literary: If you are someone who enjoys the development of a fictional character
more than the story, then you are a fan of a literary fiction.
- fiction characterized by its focus on character development, and also
the exploration of complex human emotions and relationships

Examples: Ulysses, Giovanni’s Room, Little Women, Harry Potter, Narnia

13. Dystopian: Sometimes when the world is crumbling around us, we take comfort
hiding away in a genre that's okay with blowing things up and starting over. The
world of dystopian fiction is one of the souped-up cars, mohawks, hungry populations,
and evil dictators. Inside these creations lies a greater metaphor about what it takes to
survive.

-fiction set in a future society characterized by oppressive control,

often exploring themes of government surveillance, social in equality, or
environmental degradation.

Examples: Divergent, Maze Runner, What Happened to Monday, Nowhere

14. Satire: You’ve probably come across satire in your daily life without even
realizing it. From contemporary pop culture platforms like Saturday Night Live to the
hand-drawn caricatures artists use to pull in the tourists, satire is everywhere.
-fiction that uses humor, irony or exaggeration to critique/comment on
societal issues, politics, or human behavior.

Example: Gulliver’s Travels

15. Young Adult (YA): While we are all dealing with our problems and facing
challenges that we never thought of facing before, we didn’t notice that we’re slowly
becoming an adult.
-targets primarily at a teenage audience, often featuring
themes relevant to young adults’ experiences and concerns.

Examples: Princess Diaries, The Fault in our Stars, Hunger Games, Getaway List

2. Non fiction
Definition
-contains prose writing that is based on facts, real events, and real people, such as
biography/history

1. Biography: a detailed account of a person’s life, written by another person. The

term “biography” is derived from two Greek words: “bio,” which means life, and
“graphy,” which signifies writing.

Examples of notable authorized biographies:

 “Mandela: The Authorized Biography” by Anthony Sampson (1999)

 “Marilyn Monroe: The Biography” by Donald Spoto (1993)

 “Joni Mitchell: In Her Own Words” by Malka Marom (2014)

 “The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life” by Alice Schroeder
(2008)

 “Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg” by Irin
Carmon and Shana Knizhnik (2015)

Examples of notable academic biographies:

 “Einstein: His Life and Universe” by Walter Isaacson (2007)

 “Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson (2011)

 “John Adams” by David McCullough (2001)

 “Alexander the Great” by Robin Lane Fox (1973)

 “Marie Curie: A Life” by Susan Quinn (1995)

2. Autobiography: a narrative of a person’s life written by the person themselves.

Examples: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, Autobiography of a Yogi by

Paramahansa Yogananda, Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela

3. Memoir- a narrative focusing on a specific period or aspect of a person’s life, often

more reflective and personal than a biography.

Examples of nonfiction memoirs include: Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad ,

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, The Things I Learned From Falling by Claire
Nelson

4. Essay: a short piece of writing that explore a specific topic, idea, or viewpoint in a
concise and structured manner.

5. Journalism: writing that reports news, events, and issues for newspapers,
magazines, or online publications.
(BANTAYAN, DAISY MARIE B.)

6. History - a detailed and factual account of past events, often written with analysis
and interpretations.

Explanation: We all know that history should be all about facts because it’s one way
of people learning about the human past. It is a systematic study and a documentation
wherein historians analyze and interpret. And as historians try to interpret the pieces
and prove that it is actually true, only then they can consider it as it is and list it in a
chronological order.

7. Travelogue - a narrative of traveler’s experiences, observations, and adventures

during their journey to different places.

Explanation: This is basically a diary, but of a person’s journey from one place to
another.

8. Self-help - books or articles offering advice, guidance, and strategies for personal
growth, improvement, or problem-solving.

Explanation: These are books written with an intention to help someone to overcome
their challenges and improve their well-being.

9. True crime - a nonfictional account of actual crimes, investigations, and legal

proceedings.

Explanation: True crime examines a crime and details the actions of people associated
with and affected by criminal events. It can include murders, kidnappings, robberies,
and other criminal activities. Example are the Scene of Crime Operatives and the film,
monster: the Jeffery Dahmer story.

11. Science writing - this explains scientific concepts, discoveries, and research to a
general audience, including popular science books and articles.

Explanation: At its simplest and broadest definition, science writing is writing about
science. It is often paraphrased and usually doesn't come directly from the source of a
study.

12. Cookbooks - this is a nonfiction books containing recipes, cooking techniques,

and culinary tips.

Explanation: This refers to any book containing a straightforward set of already tried
and tested “recipes” or instructions for a specific field or activity, presented in detail.
Cookbooks may be written by individual authors, who may be chefs, cooking teachers,
or other food writers; they may be written by collectives; or they may be anonymous.

12. Reference books - a nonfiction books designed to provide factual information on

specific subjects, such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, and almanacs.
Explanation: It is also called background sources, or resources, and is one way to get
quick specific facts or information or an overview of a subject. It is considered
nonfiction because they are designed to provide factual information and authoritative
knowledge on various subjects.

13. Business and economics - a nonfiction books and articles discussing business
practices, economic theories, and financial strategies.

Explanation: Nonfiction books on business and economics can be incredibly

informative and engaging, providing readers with a detailed understanding of the
inner workings of the business world and the economic forces that shape it. As its
name suggest, these are books about business and economics. One of the best
narrative nonfiction books on business and economics is "The Big Short" by Michael
Lewis.
14. Politics and Current Affairs - a nonfiction writing that cover a wide range of
topics related to government, political systems, policies, and contemporary social
issues.

Explanation: This is basically about politics, it could be about anything that is going
on in a country, social issues that the people within the society is facing at the
moment, or simply an everyday event or issues that occurs locally, nationally, or
internationally.

15. Educational - a nonfiction material designed for educational purposes, including

textbooks, instructional manuals, and academic papers.

Explanation: They are used in the study of a subject and can contain a presentation of
the principles of a subject or a literary work relevant to the study of a subject.