Forms and Types of Prose

Definitions
Prose: writing that is organized in sentences and paragraphs (NOT poetry) Genre: Different types of prose

 Literature

Novel and Novella Short Story Non-fiction Folk Literature Drama Poetry

Forms of Prose

Novel and Novella

Long works of fiction that tell a story about imaginary people called characters. Novella is shorter than a novel. Both have a lesson about life (theme).

Short Story
A short work of fiction that tells a story about imaginary characters. Like a novel or novella, a short story also has a theme. Short stories have a plot and characters like a longer work of fiction.

 Writing that is about real people and places.

Types:
Autobiography: the story of a persons life, or part of it,

Non-Fiction

written by the person. Biography: Another author tells the story of someone elses life. Expository Essay: Present information about any subject. Essay: Brief work that is based on fact. Could be personal, descriptive, or persuasive. Informational Text: Any writing that gives information like directions, textbooks, newspapers, etc.

Folk Literature
Folk literature develops in every culture and reflects the history and beliefs of the people who create it. Usually starts as an oral tradition. Example: Paul Bunyan

Types of Folk Lit

Legends: a story about the past believed to be

based on real events or history. However, things are usually bigger and stranger than usual, which lead the reader to know it is not true.
Example: Robin Hood

Folk Tale: a story passed on by word of mouth

Example: Hansel and Gretal

through cultures for the purpose of teaching values.

Myth: a fictional tale that explain the actions of

Example: Hercules

gods, interactions of gods with humans, or causes of natural phenomena. Frequently uses talking animals.
Example: Aesops Fables (The Tortoise and the Hare)

Fable: a brief stories that teach a lesson, or moral.

 Similar to prose fiction, but written to be presented on stage. Has dialogue, the words the characters speak. Has stage directions which tell the actors what to do on stage.

Drama

Example of Drama
Stage Directions

Dialogue

 Anything other than prose. Usually organized in stanzas (short paragraphs) Hard to really define Uses descriptive language and literary devices (simile, metaphor, etc).

Poetry

Example of Poetry
A Dream Deferred
By Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-like a syrupy sweet?
Simile

Maybe it just sags like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

Stanza

Review!
1) What type of literature is a newspaper?
a) b) c) d) fiction non-fiction drama poetry

Review!
2) What type of literature is a novel?
a) b) c) d) fiction non-fiction drama poetry

Review!
3) What is NOT a characteristic of poetry?
a) b) c) d) descriptive language paragraphs stanzas literary devices

Review!
4) What characterizes drama?
a) b) c) d) dialogue stage directions actors all of the above

Review!
5) Which is shorter? A Novel or Novella?
Novella

Novel