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Prose fiction plays a significant role in shaping how we understand human experience and imagination. But what exactly is prose fiction? How does it differ from other literary forms? And why has it become the dominant medium for storytelling?
In this post, we’ll explore the meaning of prose, fiction, and prose fiction—tracing their origins, characteristics, and relevance in literature and everyday communication.
What is Prose?
Prose is the most natural and straightforward form of written or spoken language. The word “prose” originates from the Latin term prosa, meaning “straightforward.” It mirrors ordinary speech and lacks the rhythmic or metrical structure found in poetry.
Unlike verse or poetic writing, prose is characterised by:
- Complete sentences arranged into paragraphs
- A narrative structure that mimics everyday communication
- A loosely defined, flexible structure
- Logical and grammatical sentence construction
Because of its clarity and ease of expression, prose is widely used in various contexts, including novels, newspapers, speeches, academic texts, and everyday conversation. As Samuel Taylor Coleridge once remarked:
“Prose is words in their best order; poetry—the best words in their best order.”
Features of Prose
- Prose uses simple, direct, and unembellished language
- It has no formal rhythmic structure
- It is designed for clarity and accessibility
- Prose emphasises meaning over musicality
What is Fiction?
Fiction comes from the Latin fictum, which means “created” or “imagined.” It refers to narratives that are not based entirely on factual events, but are instead products of the author’s imagination. Fictional works can range from fairy tales to science fiction, historical novels, and fantasy.
Fictional narratives may include:
- Imaginary characters and events
- Created settings or timelines
- Symbolic or metaphorical storytelling
- A focus on human emotions, experiences, and relationships
While fiction may be inspired by reality, it does not aim to be a factual account. Instead, it allows writers the creative freedom to invent stories that reflect, exaggerate, or explore the human condition.
What is Prose Fiction?
When you combine prose and fiction, you get prose fiction—a literary genre that presents imaginary stories in a realistic, narrative form.
Definition of Prose Fiction
Prose fiction is a form of narrative writing that tells invented or imagined stories using the structure and language of everyday speech.
It is distinguished from other forms of fiction, such as drama (which uses dialogue) and poetry (which uses verse and meter). Examples of prose fiction include Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
Forms of Prose Fiction
- Short Story – A brief narrative that focuses on a single theme or character
- Novella – A work longer than a short story but shorter than a novel
- Novel – A long, complex narrative with multiple characters, plots, and settings
Origins of Prose Fiction
The roots of prose fiction can be traced back to the ancient world, particularly the Mediterranean basin between 800 B.C. and A.D. 400. This region—home to Hebrew, Greek, and Latin civilizations—was instrumental in shaping the intellectual and literary traditions of the Western world.
Although early prose narratives existed, many scholars believe that the epic tradition paved the way for prose fiction.
Even though some early writers may not have directly drawn from these prose narratives, they were undoubtedly influenced by the structure, themes, and narrative depth of ancient epics and religious stories.
The epic was one of the earliest forms of narrative literature. It is a long narrative poem that recounts the heroic exploits of legendary figures. Some notable examples include:
- The Epic of Gilgamesh (1300–1000 B.C.) – Sumerian
- The Ramayana and Mahabharata – Indian epics (400 B.C. – 4th Century B.C.)
- Beowulf – Anglo-Saxon epic (c. 750–1000)
- Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey – Greek epics (9th–8th Century B.C.)
- Virgil’s Aeneid – Latin epic (29–19 B.C.)
These stories, though poetic, laid the groundwork for prose fiction. They featured central heroes, narrative structure (beginning, middle, end), and imaginative storytelling, though they often lacked the realism and causality that define the modern novel.
The Epic of Gilgamesh, in particular, is regarded as the oldest surviving piece of heroic literature. It follows the adventures of King Gilgamesh of Uruk and his companion Enkidu. Together, they face gods, monsters, and personal trials. Enkidu’s death propels Gilgamesh on a quest for immortality. His quest exposes the futility of mortal fame and offers insights into the human condition.
Despite its fantastical elements, the epic’s emotional depth, character development, and narrative arc reflect many qualities found in contemporary prose fiction.
Many scholars also point to biblical stories—especially those in the Old Testament—as early examples of prose narratives. These stories often focus on individuals and follow a chronological structure. Key examples are:
- Creation and Fall of Man (Genesis 1–3)
- Cain and Abel (Genesis 4)
- Noah and the Flood (Genesis 6–9)
- Joseph’s Journey (Genesis 37–46)
- The Book of Job
- The Book of Ruth
These narratives bear structural similarities to modern novels like Robinson Crusoe or Moll Flanders as regards character development, conflict, and resolution.
By the 11th and 12th centuries, a new form of storytelling emerged in southern France: the romance. Initially inspired by Roman and Greek histories, the genre evolved to include Arthurian legends and tales of knightly quests and courtly love. Notable features of early romances include:
- Hero-centered adventures
- Moral and chivalric tests
- Didactic elements
- Quest and adventure as central plot drivers
Examples of romance are Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde (1380–87) and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (c. 1380).
These narratives, though poetic, contributed significantly to the prose fiction tradition through their structured plotlines, character focus, and moral themes. Modern fiction still draws from their narrative architecture, particularly in genres like fantasy and adventure.
A key figure in the transition from medieval to modern fiction was Giovanni Boccaccio (1313–1375), an Italian author and poet. His masterpiece, The Decameron, is considered one of the most influential works of prose fiction in medieval Europe.
Written in vernacular Italian, The Decameron features a frame narrative in which ten characters tell a hundred stories over ten days. These tales explore themes of love, wit, fortune, and human behaviour with a realism and style that foreshadowed the modern novel.
Characteristics of Prose Fiction
In this section, we are going to examine the characteristics of prose fiction used in creating immersive, believable, and emotionally engaging stories.
There are five of them. Verisimilitude, time and space, volume, atmosphere, and tone.
1. Verisimilitude
One of the most important characteristics of prose fiction is verisimilitude, or the appearance of being true or real. Prose fiction creates believable scenarios, characters, and events, even if they are completely imaginary.
Verisimilitude is what makes stories relatable. Readers are more likely to engage with a narrative when it mirrors real-life experiences—even if those experiences are fictional. For instance, in a realistic novel, if a character gets injured, we expect to read about blood, not sparks of fire. This sense of realism draws readers into the story.
In genres like fantasy or science fiction, authors still aim for verisimilitude through what is known as the “willing suspension of disbelief”—where readers temporarily accept the fantastical as plausible within the story’s world.
Verisimilitude also fosters intimacy. Unlike plays performed in theaters, where the audience is distanced from the stage, prose fiction offers a deeply personal reading experience. Readers are able to visualise characters and events in their minds.
2. Time and Space
Prose fiction allows for a flexible representation of time and space. It gives writers the freedom to explore a wide range of settings, periods, and character development.
Time can be chronological, that is, measurable by dates and ages. For example, “At 20, Tom began work; at 25, he left home.”
Also, time can be functional, that is, measured by personal growth or development, not by the clock. A character’s progress or regression over time reveals much about their personality and the story’s message.
As for space, it is the physical and emotional settings where events unfold. It includes the environment, cultural context, and geographical location.
Together, time and space shape the plot and influence how readers perceive characters and their transformation. For example, in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, the space between Okonkwo’s exile and his return is rich with meaning and character evolution.
3. Volume
Prose fiction comes in various lengths, each with a different reading experience. The volume or length of a prose piece often determines its classification:
| Type | Word Count | Page Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Short Story | 2,000 – 7,500 words | 5–25 pages |
| Novelette | 7,500 – 17,500 words | 25–60 pages |
| Novella | 17,500 – 50,000 words | 60–170 pages |
| Novel | 50,000+ words | 170+ pages |
While these are general guidelines, the depth of character development and thematic exploration is often more important than strict word count. Novels typically offer a panoramic view of life, while short stories may focus on a single moment or insight.
4. Atmosphere
The atmosphere in prose fiction is the emotional climate of the story. It is the mood or emotional tone that pervades a story. It is created through descriptive language, dialogue, pacing, and the interplay of characters and events.
An effective atmosphere immerses readers in the world of the story. For instance, Elechi Amadi’s The Concubine evokes a mysterious and tragic atmosphere through spiritual undertones, suspenseful events, and the inevitable misfortunes that follow Ihuoma’s lovers.
Atmosphere can shift throughout a work—ranging from suspenseful to romantic, tragic to hopeful—based on the events and emotional arcs of the characters.
5. Tone
Closely related to atmosphere is tone—the author’s subtle attitude toward the subject matter, characters, or themes. While atmosphere affects the reader’s emotions, tone reveals the writer’s stance.
Tone can be:
- Admiring
- Condemning
- Satirical
- Playful
- Somber
- Exhortative
Though rarely stated outright, tone is embedded in narrative choices, language, and character portrayal. For instance, an author may describe a corrupt leader with sarcasm and irony, signaling a critical tone without explicitly condemning the character.
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