Philippine Literature

Prose 

comes from the Latin "prosa" which means "straightforward". Prose can be written or spoken and has no formal metrical structure. It is basically ordinary language the way people speak. Is a form of language which applies ordinary grammatical structure and natural flow of speech rather than rhythmic structure (as in traditional poetry). While there are critical debates on the construction of prose, its simplicity and loosely defined structure has led to its adoption for the majority of spoken dialogue, factual discourse as well as topical and fictional writing. It is commonly used, for example, in literature, newspapers, magazines, encyclopedias, broadcasting, film, history,philosophy, law and many other forms of communication.

Example:
◘ Prose in Nonfiction
◘ Prose in Plays
◘ Prose in Speeches



KINDS OF PROSE:

Short Story

A prose narrative limited to a certain word limit is defined as a short story. It generally includes descriptions, dialogues, and commentaries. However, one characteristic that distinguishes a short story from the other kinds of prose is the concentration on a compact narrative with detailed character drawing. In general, short stories are believed to have existed decades back, even before the art of writing was known to man. The oldest recorded example of a short story is considered to be the Egyptian tale of “The Two Brothers” dated around 3200 BC.

Example: 

◘ The Red Pony

◘ Nightfall

◘ A study in Scarlet

 

Novel 

Similar to a short story, a novel includes uncertain information since it centers on different types and possibilities. However, the length of a novel is highly undecided due to the numerous characters and situations included in it. In short, a novel is a comprehensive narrative on a large scale, in particular. Just like short stories, novels, too, have known to exist ever since literature came into existence. Amongst all the prose kinds, the novel dominates the industry, both in terms of quality and quantity. However, considering its quantity, its only rival is the magazine short story.

Example:

◘ Call me Ishmael - Moby Dick by Herman Melville

◘ You better not never tell nobody but God - The color purple - Alice Walker

◘ It was bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. 1984 - George Orwell

 

Fable

A fable is a short allegorical tale emphasizing on a moral or any principle of behavior. The characters of fables are usually animals that portray like human beings, though they keep their animal traits intact. The moral of these fables is highlighted towards the end of the story in the form of a proverb and is generally enacted. The oldest fables describe stories of why crows are black, or why different animals display different characteristics, such as a sly fox, a dignified lion, and so on. The earliest fables came from Greece and India, while the oldest Western fables were those of Aesop.

Example:

◘ Fable of The Ant and the Grasshopper

◘ Fable of A Lion and A Mouse

◘ Fable of An Old Man and An Ass

Fairy Tale

Stories of kings, princesses, poor farmers, and queens are not new to any one of us. They are generally guided by supernatural or magical events that fascinate us to get engrossed in them. These short stories are nothing but fairy tales. They are distinguished by generalized characters without being individualized or localized; thus, the names ‘a king’, ‘a queen’, ‘a poor farmer’, and ‘a princess’. Fairy tales begin with misfortunes graduating towards undergoing adventures and solving mysteries, and ending in a happily-ever-after mode, thereby rewarding the virtue. These stories often revolve around charms, magic, disguise, and spells. Hans Christian Andersen (Danish), Basile (Italian), the Grimm Brothers (German), Perrault (French), and Keightley and Croker (English) are known to create some of the most famous collections of fairy tales.

 

Example:

◘ Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)

◘ The Witches (1990)

◘ The Brothers Grimm (2005)

Tale

A tale is a kind of prose narrative that describes strange and wonderful events in the form of somewhat bare summary. However, the main character is not focused on or given due importance. In fact, the goal or purpose of the tale is highlighted and given front seat rather than the main protagonist himself. For example, in the tale English folk of ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’, the beanstalk and the giant are highlighted instead of Jack’s personality.

Example: 

◘ A Tale of Two Little Girls

◘ Snow White

◘ Pinocchio

Poetry

is an imaginative awareness of experience expressed through meaning, sound, and rhythmic language choices so as to evoke an emotional response. Poetry has been known to employ meter and rhyme, but this is by no means necessary. Poetry is an ancient form that has gone through numerous and drastic reinvention over time. The very nature of poetry as an authentic and individual mode of expression makes it nearly impossible to define.

Example:

◘ I forbade him entrance

◘ I forbade him love

◘ I forbade him breath

Kinds of Poetry

Narrative poetry is a form of poetry which tells a story, often making use of the voices of a narrator and characters as well; the entire story is usually written in metered verse. The poems that make up this genre may be short or long, and the story it relates to may be complex. It is usually dramatic, with objectives, diverse characters, and metre. Narrative poems include epics,ballads, idylls and lays.

Example:
◘ The Battle of Naseby, by Thomas Babington Macaulay
◘ Balin and Balan, by Alfred Tennyson
◘ The Cavern by the sea, by Martha Lavinia Hoffman

Lyric poetry can defined as a poem that allows people to show their feelings.They also have a particular rhyming scheme. They can also be set to a beat or music.

Example:
◘ Turn back the heart you've turn away, by James DeFord
◘ Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?, by William Shakespeare
◘ I felt a funeral in my Brain, by Emily Dickinson

Dramatic poetry is a form of writing that expresses emotional feelings. It's a very creative form of art.

Example:
◘ The Dream Called Life, by Pedro Calderon de la Barca (1600-1681)
◘ The Law of the Jungle, by Rudyard Kipling
◘ The Raven, by Edgar Allan Poe