PROSE

Definition

 Is that broad genre of literature that is written in

paragraph form.
It is an expression that does not have a regular
rhythmic pattern. It differs from poetry in the
sense that it does not have measure and rhyme,
besides rhythm with sustained regularly. All
genres of prose, except essays, have the following
elements : setting, character, theme, plot, conflict
and point of view.
 Elements

 Setting
- refers to the time and locale of the story
 Character
- The characters are categorized into principal and supporting characters. The
principal characters are the protagonist and the primary antagonist, whereas the supporting
characters are the supporting antagonists, confidants, foil and background characters.
 Protagonist
- The hero is the main character around the story revolves.
 Antagonist
- The villain is the main or the supporting character who opposes the protagonist.
 Confidant/e.
- Is a supporting character upon whom the protagonist confides.
 Foil
- Is the supporting characters who serves a contrast to the hero but does not
necessarily oppose him.
 Background Character
- Are those characters who provide reality story by their mere presence.
 Unseen Character
- Is an absent character who, even in his absence, affects the development of the
story.
 Theme
- Is the idea or concept of the author expressed in concise statement.
 Plot
- Is the chronological sequence of the events in the story.
 Exposition
- The first part of the plot, the exposition introduce the settings and character in
the story.
 Rising Incidents
- Are those incidents that lead to the complication.
 Complication
- is the longest part of the narrative, in which the conflict developes.
 Crisis
- The problem of the story.
 Climax
- Is the highest point of the story, during which the readers know how the conflict
will be resolved.
 Denouement or Resolution
- Is the part of the plot which the conflict is resolved.
 Falling Incidents
- Are those incidents that lead to the conclusion.
 Conclusion
- Is the last part of the story’s plot.
 Conflict
- Motivating, during forces that insult both characters and readers in narrative.
 Social Conflict
- Exists when the protagonist and antagonist are oppose to each other.
 Physical Conflict
- Is a occur when the protagonist struggles against physical force such a natural
calamities illness and the like.
 Metaphysical Conflict
- Exists when the protagonist fight when supernatural begins such a good god and
goddesses, vampire, werewolves, elves, fairies and the like.
 Personal or Internal or Psychological Conflict
- Occurs when the character experiences a dilemma.
 Point of View
- Is the view the angle of narration.
 Autobiographical Point of View
- The first person of the “I” point of view.
 Omniscient Third-Person Point of View
- Is employed by the author when the narrator does not take part in the story, but as
an all knowing (omniscient) observe, he sees all the events and knows the speech,
action, thoughts and emotions (SATE) of the character and reports then to the
readers.
 Object Third-person Point of View
- Is used by the writer when the narrator does not take part
in the story, but reports objectively the events in the story.
 Selective Third- Person Point of View
- Is used by the writer when the narrator those not take part
in the story, but he knows the speech, action, thought and
emotions of some characters and reports them; with the rest of
the character, he reports only their speech and action.
 Tone
- Is the emotional climate inherent in the story.
 Atmosphere
- Either the psychological environment or the predminant
tone or mood of the literary piece.
Kinds
 Fiction
- The counter part of narrative poetry, fiction includes prose works that tell a
story.
 Short Story
- A short story (See Appendix C.) is a narrative prose that has 1 to 10 pages, a
single settings, a few characters (from two to five) , a singular theme, and a simple
plot.
 Novel
- A narrative prose that has about 50 pages or more, multiple settings, many
characters (20 or more) plurality of themes, and a complicated plot.
 Novelette
- Is a short novel .
 Drama
- The counter part of poetry, a drama or play a narrative prose intended to be
performed in stage.
 Closet Drama
- Is a drama that is intended to be read, not to be stage to
performed .
 Essay
- The counter part of the lyric poetry, an essay is a prose work
dealing with a single subject, usually representing the writer’s
personal experience and outlook.
 Formal Essay
- Which has for its subjects matter “high brow” topics such as
scientific findings, societal problems, religious conflicts, etc.
 Informal Essay
- Is an essay which has for its subject matter topics that are
light or familiar such as pencils or waiting for a write.
History of Notable Artist
Local Prose Writers
 Aragon, Roy V. (Born October 31, 1968)
An award winning fictionist and poet, Aragon is a Filipino writer writing in Ilocano and Filipino
language.
 Arcellana, Francisco (September 6, 1916 – August 1, 2002)
National artist of the Philippines for literature, Arcellana (A.K.A Franz) was a Filipino writer, poet
essayist, critic journalist, and a teacher.
 Bautista, Lualhati
One of the most famous contemporary novelist, Bautista wrote novels (GAPO, “Dekada ’70”, “ Bata,
bata pano ka ginawa?” and Desaparecidos”), some of which were turned into movies.
 Bulosan, Carlos
Known for his humorous stories, Bulosan is noted for his works, “My father goes to court” , The voice of Bataan” ,
“Laughter of my father” and “America is in the heart”.
 Dalisay, Jose Jr. (Born January 15, 1954)
A writer of scripts for the late Lino Brocka (National Artist of the Philippines for Theater and Film), Dalisay is a
recipient of numerous awards and prizes for fiction, poetry, drama, non-fiction, and screenplay, including 16
Planca Awards.
 Gonzales, Nestor Vicente M. (September 8,1915 – November 28, 1999)
National Artist of the Philippines for Literature in 1997, N.V. M. Gonzalez was a Filipino writer conferred the
degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa on April 14, 1987 by the University of the Philippines.
 Hernandez, Amado Vera (September 13, 1903 – March 24, 1970)
National Artist of the Philippines for Literature, Hernandez was married to the National Artist of the Philippines
for Theater, Dance, and Music, Atang de la Rama.
 Javellana, Stevan
One of the Philippines’ noteworthy novelist, Javellana wrote the inspiring “WithoutSeeing the Dawn”
 Joaquin, Nicomedes M. (May 4, 1917-April 29, 2004)
National Artist of the Philippines for Literature, Nicomedes Joaquin (A.K.A Nick Joaquin and Quijano de Manila)
was a Filipino writer, historian, and journalist considered among the ranks of the most important Filipino writers in
English (including Jose P. Rizal and Claro M. Recto).
 Lopez, Salvador
The foremost proponent of art for society’s sake, Lopez won an award for his essay, “Literature and Society.”
 Mallari, Ismael V.
One of the well-loved Filipino prose writers, Mallari is best known for his essays, one of which is “Pliant Like a
Bamboo.”
 Quirino, Carlos L. (January 14, 1910 – May 20, 1999)
National Artist of the Philippines for Historical Literature, Quirino was a Philippine biographer and historian best
known for his early biography of Jose Rizal.
 Roces, Alejandro R. (July 13, 1924 – May 23, 2011)
National Artist of the Philippines for Literature in 2003, Roces was a Filipino essayist, dramatist, and author
famous for his short stories “We Filipino Are Mild Drinkers” (Best Short Story in the University of Arizona) and “My
Brother’s Peculiar Chicken” (Martha Foley’s Best American Stories in1948 and 1951).
 Santos, Bienvenido
A pioneering Asian-American writer in the US, Santos is a Filipino fictionist, poet and non-fiction writer.
 Sionil Jose, Francisco (Born December 3, 1924)
National Artist of the Philippines for Literature in 2001, Sionil Jose is a Filipino fictionist whose English novels and
short stories have been translated into 22 languages (including Indonesian, Korean, Russian, Latvian, Ukrainian, and
Dutch).
 Tiempo, Ediberto K. (1913 – September 1996)
A writer and professor at the Silliman University. Tiempo worked for the same university in various capacities.
 Tiempo, Edith L. (April 22, 1919 – August 21, 2011)
National Artist of the Philippines for Literature in 1999, Tiempo was a poet, fiction writer, teacher, and literary
critic whose works were written in the English language.
 Ty-Casper, Belinda (Born 1931)
Fondly called Linda, Ty-Casper is a prolific writer who has published more than 15 books.
 Villa, Jose Garcia (August 5, 1908 – February 7, 1997)
National Artist of the Philippines for Literature in 1973, Villa was a Filipino poet, literary critic, short story
writer, and painter awarded the Guggenhiem Fellowship in creative writing by Conrad Aiken.