This article is about the language form. For legal term uses, see Pro se. For the American author, see Francine Prose.
Prose is a form of written or spoken language that follows the natural flow of speech, uses a language's ordinary grammatical structures, or follows the conventions of formal academic writing. It differs from most traditional poetry, where the form consists of verse (writing in lines) based on rhythmic metre or rhyme. The word "prose" first appears in English in the 14th century. It is derived from the Old Frenchprose, which in turn originates in the Latin expression prosa oratio (literally, straightforward or direct speech).[1] Works of philosophy, history, economics, etc., journalism, and most fiction (an exception is the verse novel), are examples of works written in prose. Developments in twentieth century literature, including free verse, concrete poetry, and prose poetry, have led to the idea of poetry and prose as two ends on a spectrum rather than firmly distinct from each other. The British poet T. S. Eliot noted, whereas "the distinction between verse and prose is clear, the distinction between poetry and prose is obscure."[2]
Latin was a major influence on the development of prose in many European countries. Especially important was the great Roman orator Cicero (106 – 43 BC).[3] It was the lingua franca among literate Europeans until quite recent times, and the great works of Descartes (1596 – 1650), Francis Bacon (1561 – 1626), and Baruch Spinoza (1632 – 1677) were published in Latin. Among the last important books written primarily in Latin prose were the works of Swedenborg (d. 1772), Linnaeus (d. 1778), Euler (d. 1783), Gauss (d. 1855), and Isaac Newton (d. 1727).
Qualities
Prose usually lacks the more formal metrical structure of the verses found in traditional poetry. It comprises full grammatical sentences (other than in stream of consciousness narrative), and paragraphs, whereas poetry often involves a metrical or rhyming scheme. Some works of prose make use of rhythm and verbal music. Verse is normally more systematic or formulaic, while prose is closer to both ordinary, and conversational speech.
In Molière's play Le Bourgeois gentilhomme the character Monsieur Jourdain asked for something to be written in neither verse nor prose, to which a philosophy master replies: "there is no other way to express oneself than with prose or verse", for the simple reason that "everything that is not prose is verse, and everything that is not verse is prose".[4]
American novelist Truman Capote, in an interview, commented as follows on prose style:
I believe a story can be wrecked by a faulty rhythm in a sentence— especially if it occurs toward the end—or a mistake in paragraphing, even punctuation. Henry James is the maestro of the semicolon. Hemingway is a first-rate paragrapher. From the point of view of ear, Virginia Woolf never wrote a bad sentence. I don't mean to imply that I successfully practice what I preach. I try, that's all.[5]
Prosimetrum – is a poetic composition which exploits a combination of prose and verse (metrum);[8] in particular, it is a text composed in alternating segments of prose and verse.[9] It is widely found in Western and Eastern literature.[9]
Purple prose – is prose that is so extravagant, ornate, or flowery as to break the flow and draw excessive attention to itself.[10]
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This article is about the language form For legal term uses see Pro se For the American author see Francine Prose Prose is a form of written or spoken language that follows the natural flow of speech uses a language s ordinary grammatical structures or follows the conventions of formal academic writing It differs from most traditional poetry where the form consists of verse writing in lines based on rhythmic metre or rhyme The word prose first appears in English in the 14th century It is derived from the Old French prose which in turn originates in the Latin expression prosa oratio literally straightforward or direct speech 1 Works of philosophy history economics etc journalism and most fiction an exception is the verse novel are examples of works written in prose Developments in twentieth century literature including free verse concrete poetry and prose poetry have led to the idea of poetry and prose as two ends on a spectrum rather than firmly distinct from each other The British poet T S Eliot noted whereas the distinction between verse and prose is clear the distinction between poetry and prose is obscure 2 Contents 1 History 2 Qualities 2 1 Types 2 2 Divisions 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksHistory EditThis section needs expansion You can help by adding to it October 2020 Further information Chinese prose Ancient Greek literature Roman literature Elizabethan literature Prose Augustan prose Restoration literature Prose genres and Prose of the Ottoman Empire Latin was a major influence on the development of prose in many European countries Especially important was the great Roman orator Cicero 106 43 BC 3 It was the lingua franca among literate Europeans until quite recent times and the great works of Descartes 1596 1650 Francis Bacon 1561 1626 and Baruch Spinoza 1632 1677 were published in Latin Among the last important books written primarily in Latin prose were the works of Swedenborg d 1772 Linnaeus d 1778 Euler d 1783 Gauss d 1855 and Isaac Newton d 1727 Qualities EditProse usually lacks the more formal metrical structure of the verses found in traditional poetry It comprises full grammatical sentences other than in stream of consciousness narrative and paragraphs whereas poetry often involves a metrical or rhyming scheme Some works of prose make use of rhythm and verbal music Verse is normally more systematic or formulaic while prose is closer to both ordinary and conversational speech In Moliere s play Le Bourgeois gentilhomme the character Monsieur Jourdain asked for something to be written in neither verse nor prose to which a philosophy master replies there is no other way to express oneself than with prose or verse for the simple reason that everything that is not prose is verse and everything that is not verse is prose 4 American novelist Truman Capote in an interview commented as follows on prose style I believe a story can be wrecked by a faulty rhythm in a sentence especially if it occurs toward the end or a mistake in paragraphing even punctuation Henry James is the maestro of the semicolon Hemingway is a first rate paragrapher From the point of view of ear Virginia Woolf never wrote a bad sentence I don t mean to imply that I successfully practice what I preach I try that s all 5 Types Edit See also Prose types Many types of prose exist which include those used in works of nonfiction prose poem 6 alliterative prose and prose fiction A prose poem is a composition in prose that has some of the qualities of a poem 7 Haikai prose combines haiku and prose Prosimetrum is a poetic composition which exploits a combination of prose and verse metrum 8 in particular it is a text composed in alternating segments of prose and verse 9 It is widely found in Western and Eastern literature 9 Purple prose is prose that is so extravagant ornate or flowery as to break the flow and draw excessive attention to itself 10 Divisions Edit Prose is divided into two main divisions Fiction Non fictionReferences Edit prose n Online Etymology Dictionary Retrieved 19 January 2015 Eliot T S Poetry amp Prose The Chapbook Poetry Bookshop London 1921 Literature Encyclopaedia Britannica online Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme English translation accessible via Project Gutenberg Retrieved 2010 01 31 Hill Pati Truman Capote The Art of Fiction No 17 The Paris Review Spring Summer 1957 16 Retrieved 18 February 2015 Lehman David 2008 Great American Prose Poems Simon and Schuster ISBN 978 1439105115 Prose poem Merriam Webster Retrieved 2012 05 27 Braund Susanna Prosimetrum In Cancil Hubert and Helmuth Schneider eds Brill s New Pauly Brill Online 2012 Retrieved 2 October 2015 a b Brogan T V F Prosimetrum In Green et al pp 1115 1116 A Word a Day purple prose Wordsmith org Retrieved 26 December 2014 Further reading EditGosse Edmund William 1911 Prose Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 22 11th ed pp 450 455 Patterson William Morrison Rhythm of Prose Columbia University Press 1917 Kuiper Kathleen 2011 Prose Literary Terms and Concepts The Rosen Publishing Group ISBN 978 1615304943 244 pages Shklovsky Viktor 1991 Theory of Prose Dalkey Archive Press ISBN 0916583643 216 pages External links Edit Look up prose in Wiktionary the free dictionary Prose examples in LiteraturePortal LiteratureProse at Wikipedia s sister projects Media from Commons Data from Wikidata Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Prose amp oldid 1149816492, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
