The Major Genres of Literature
insists in his definition of prose and poetry
L iteratu re
P rose P oetry D ram a
Prose is the most typical form of language and it is
derived from the Latin word prosa which literally
means 'straight-forward’
 It is like talking to someone in a straight-
forward manner and not in a sing-song or
poetic way.
 This means that anything you say or write
in prose is presented in a straight- forward
manner. For instance, this course material
is presented in prose.
 There is usually no effort to present prose
in any particular or special structure.
 This lack of formal structure makes it to be
adopted as the general mode of
communication in many formal and
informal presentations like the: spoken
dialogue, speeches, factual, topical and
fictional writing.
 This means that most of the books you
read are presented in prose and that you
also talk in prose form.
 However, in prose the writer does not just
present words whether they make sense or
not.
 Words in prose are arranged in correct
sentences and in a logical sequence for a
meaningful understanding of the intended
communication.
 In view of this, Samuel Taylor Coleridge
that;
“Prose is —words in their best order;
poetry, —the best words in their best order.”
(Quoted in Hall :62).
 Fiction is derived from the Latin word
fictum which means “created”.
 Fiction is therefore any form of narrative
which deals, in part or in whole, with
events that are not factual, but rather, are
imaginary and invented by its author.
 What then is prose fiction?
 It is fictional work that is presented in a
narrative form.
 Fiction and narrative are words that
distinguish prose fiction from any other
form of narrative or fictional work.
 For instance, drama is fiction but it is
presented in dialogue and not narrative.
Prose is generally divided into two main
categories: Fiction and Nonfiction.
Types Of Prose Fiction:
 Flash Fiction: A Work of Fewer Than
2,000 Words.
 Short Story: At Least 2,000 Words but
Under 7,500 Words (5-25 Pages).
 Novelette: At Least 7,500 Words but
Under 17,500 Words. (25-60 Pages).
 Novella: At Least 17,500 Words but Under
50,000 Words. (60-170 Pages)
 Novel: 50,000 Words or More (About
170+Pages)
 Epic: 200,000 Words or More (About
680+Pages).
Fiction
1. Can tell about things that could happen
2. Is read for fun
3. Characters may be like real people or imaginary
Non-Fiction
1. Has facts that can be checked and proven
2. The author is an expert on this information.
There are two different types of fiction-
Commercial/popular and Literary
Commercial Fiction- Written and published
primarily to make money, and it makes money
because it helps large numbers of people escape
the boring and stressful living.
Literary Fiction- Written by someone with
serious artistic intentions who hopes to broaden,
deepen, and sharpen the reader’s awareness of
life.
Plunges the reader more deeply into the
real world, enabling us to understand life’s
difficulties and to empathize with others.
Elements of Prose Fiction
Characters: imaginary people or animals in a
story
Plot: series of events in a story
Setting: time and place in which a story is set
Point of View: vantage point from which a story
is told
Theme: universal message about life
Elements of Nonfiction
Nonfiction: about real people, events, or ideas
Point of view: told from the perspective of the
author presents: facts and ideas
Historical context: may include information about
the society and culture of the time