Introduction to Prose Fiction • Social conditions - What is the daily life of the characters like?

Prose: a form of language that has no formal metrical structure, Does the story contain local nuances/references (writing that
therefore, the syllables do not rhyme. In prose, there is a natural focuses on the speech, dress, mannerisms, customs, etc. of a
flow of speech, and ordinary grammatical structure, rather than particular place)
the rhythmic structure that is characteristic of poetry. Normal 3. Characterization- the term characterization is used to
everyday speech is spoken in prose, and most people think and describe the strategies that an author uses to present and
write in prose form. Prose comprises of full grammatical develop the characters in a narrative. This use of descriptive
sentences, which consist of paragraphs, and forgoes aesthetic techniques will vary from character to character. Some
appeal in favour of clear, straightforward language. characters are central to a story; often there will be one main
Prose fiction: a combination of two distinct words, “prose” and character, around whom the narrative revolves. The reader
“fiction”. The former means a presentation of spoken or written expects that such characters, and others close to the heart of
words in a narrative manner, while the latter means a non-realistic narrative events will be presented to us in great detail; we
account. Prose fiction is therefore an imaginary work that is may be allowed access to their consciousness, either by the
presented in a narrative form. It is a literary genre that presents use of first-person narration or third-person point of view,
human experience to educate and entertain the readers. It tells a and it is extremely likely that they will undergo some sort of
story that deals with cultural, social and political issues in the significant personal change (for better or worse) as a result of
world, but the characters are not real (known) human beings their experiences.
although they bear human traits and dispositions. Although the Therefore, there are two meanings for character:
story in prose fiction is fictitious, it contains identifiable I. Role: a person’s character can refer to his/her role in the
characters, locations and incidents and these helps to make the narrative. For example, a protagonist (clear centre of
story that is presented as realistic as possible. Prose fiction is story; all major events are important to this individual)
different from history which is a documentation of past realistic or antagonist (opposition or obstacle that the main
events. character must compete with).
Short Story: a brief fictional work written in prose. It can be read II. Qualities: in prose the qualities of a person or
in one sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of characteristics can be revealed through:
linked incidents. • Speech: what a character says (dialogue) and how (tone) a
Elements of Prose character speaks to others.
1. Plot – the plot is how the author arranges events to develop • Thoughts: what a character thinks, believes, values, and what
the basic idea of the piece; it is the sequence of events in a motivates a character.
narrative. The plot is a planned, logical series of events • Effects on others: the relationship the character has with others
having a beginning, middle, and end. It is important to note and how characters treat him/her.
that the short story usually has one plot so it can be read in •Actions: how a character behaves, including how they react to
one sitting. people & events.
•Looks: A character’s physical appearance. This includes
There are five essential parts of plot (Freytag’s Pyramid): physical features, clothing, body language etc.
 Exposition – this is the beginning of the story where Characters can be:
characters, background, and setting revealed. • Round – a fully developed personalities that are affected by
 Rising Action – this is where the events in the story become the story’s events; they can learn, grow, or deteriorate by the
complicated and the conflict is exposed. The rising action end of the story. Characters are most convincing when they
covers all the events between the introduction and climax. resemble real people by being consistent, motivated, and life-
- Conflict – the conflict is an essential component of the plot. like.
It is not merely limited to arguments as conflict can be any • Flat – a flat character is one-dimensional and lacks depth.
form of struggle the main character faces. Within a short An example of a flat character is a stock character. Stock
story, there may be only one central struggle, or there may be characters are conventional or stereotypical and are easily
many minor obstacles that are connected to a dominant recognized by readers, for example, boy/girl next door,
struggle. damsel in distress, villain.
There are two types of conflict: • Dynamic – a character who changes and grows during a
I. Internal Conflict- struggle within one's self. story.
• Character vs. Self - struggles with own soul, • Static – a character who does not change during a story.
physical limitations, choices, etc.
4. Theme: The theme is the central message and underlying
II. External Conflict - struggle with a force meaning of a piece. It sometimes reflects the author's
outside one’s self. thoughts on the topic or view of human nature.
• Character vs. Character - struggles against other - The title of the narrative can provide insight into the
people. preoccupation/message of the author.
• Character vs. Nature - struggles against animals, - Various figures of speech (for example symbolism, allusion,
weather, environment, etc. simile, metaphor, hyperbole, or irony) may be utilized to
• Character vs. Society - struggles against ideas, highlight the theme.
practices, or customs of others
5. Narrative Technique
 Climax – this is the turning point of the story, where readers The methods involved in telling a story; the procedures used
begin to wonder what will happen next. It is also the highest by a writer of stories or accounts. Narrative technique is a
point in the story which means that it relies extensively on general term (like "devices," or "resources of language") that
suspense. asks you to discuss the procedures used in the telling of a
 Falling action – the resolution begins; events and story. Examples of the techniques you might use are point of
complications start to fall into place. These are the events view, manipulation of time, dialogue, or interior monologue.
between climax and denouement. POINT OF VIEW
 Resolution – the outcome of events in the story. 6. Point of View - The angle or vantage point from which the
2. Setting – the setting of a story is defined as the geographical story is told.
location or locations in which the events of the narrative take There are three main types of POV:
place, as well as the time in which those events are set. • First Person POV– when the story is told by one of the
Location can refer to wider geographical entities such as characters in the narrative, it is called the first-person
countries or cities as well as smaller entities such as narrative. The narrator uses the pronouns “I”, “me”, “we”,
households or domestic interiors. Time can refer to a general and readers experience the story through this person’s eyes
historical period or to the chronological boundaries of the and only knows what he/she knows and feels. The first-
story's events. When examining how setting contributes to a person point of view has an advantage of revealing intimately
story, there are multiple aspects to consider: to the reader the character’s growing response to his
• Place - Geographical location, where is the action of the story experience and environment as portrayed through the
taking place? progression of the narrative. This first-hand account of the
• Time - Historical period, time of day, year, etc; when is the narration produces an intimacy that helps to further captivate
story taking place? the interest of the reader. It also helps to reduce the
• Weather conditions - Is it rainy, sunny, stormy, etc? communicative distance between the reader and the
 experiences of the characters. When the first-person narrator reader determines the order of events and the revelation of
is the protagonist or major character in the work, he/she tells details.
his/her own story.
•Second Person POV – the story is told by a narrator who Narrative Style
addresses the reader or some other assumed “you”. The - Language is the vehicle or channel of communication in all
speaker uses pronouns “you”, “your”, and “yours”. For genres of literature but each genre has its own use of language
example: You wake up to discover that you have been robbed that makes it unique or that is appropriate for its mode of
of all of your worldly possessions. presentation. A writer chooses the best words that would convey
•Third Person POV – the story is told by a narrator who his message appropriately. He also chooses the particular
sees all of the action. The speaker uses the pronouns “he”, language of communication. For instance, he may decide to write
“she”, “it”, “they”, “his”, “hers”, “its”, and “theirs”. This in his vernacular or a general language like English. The way he
person may be a character in the story though this is not presents his story through language is what we regard as the
always the case. writer’s style.
There are two main types of third person POV: - Style is not so much what is written, but how it is written and
•Third Person Limited - the third person limited POV interpreted. In prose fiction, style refers to language conventions
presents all the actions through the eyes of a single character used to construct the story. A fiction writer may manipulate
and readers only see what this narrator sees. The story is diction, sentence structure, phrasing, dialogue, and other aspects
presented in the third person, but the narrator does not of language to create his or her style. The communicative effect
present the thoughts and feelings of the characters. created by the author's style is sometimes referred to as the story's
• Third Person Omniscient- this narrator is all-knowing and voice and every writer has his or her own unique style, or voice.
sees everything. The third person omniscient narrator knows Style is sometimes listed as one of the fundamental elements of
the thoughts and feelings of all the characters. Therefore this fiction. One writer’s style is accessible while another’s may be
point of view is referred to as the omniscient narrative or the obscure.
eye of God. In this type of narration, the writer is presumed Standard language as the name implies is the formal and accepted
to see and know everything about the characters including form of any language. Authors write in any language of their
their innermost thoughts. choice, but each language has the structure that is accepted as
Two frequently used types of omniscient POV: correct. This correct version is what we call standard language
- Innocent Eye/Naive Narrator – the story is told through a and writers are expected to use that correct version in their works
child’s eyes. The narrator’s judgment is different from that of since one of the functions of literature is to teach, so the reader
an adult as it is unfiltered, unabashed and usually presents a learns more on the usage of English language by reading well-
more honest representation of the events. written novels.
- Stream of Consciousness – this is a narrative strategy where However, a writer may deviate from this norm but usually for
the story is told so readers solely experience a character’s special effect. This deviation is referred to as Poetic licence. This
thoughts and reactions. The stream of consciousness gives is where non- standard language comes in. Non-standard
the impression of a mind at work, jumping from one language comes in the form of slangs, colloquialisms, pidgin,
observation, sensation, or reflection to the next, seamlessly infusion of vernacular and other ungrammatical expressions that
and often without conventional transitions. may be adopted in prose works for specific reasons. For example,
DIALOGUE it could be used to depict what region or ethnic group a character
Dialogue is another technique that authors use to tell their belongs to, or his social class or literacy level. These are intended
stories. Dialogue is direct speech between two characters. to bring realism into the work. So when you are reading any prose
Authors often signify dialogue with quotation marks and a fictional work and you come across some forms of language that
dialogue tag like "he said" or "she whispered." Through are not grammatically correct, you know that it is for a specific
dialogue, authors are able to create scenes in which purpose. It is important to note that this is different from a poorly
characters speak to one another and voice their thoughts and written work.
feelings. Tone & Mood
MANIPULATION OF TIME Tone is closely related to atmosphere. It refers to the writer’s
Authors also use shifts in time within novels as a narrative attitude to the idea or subject presented in the work. The writer’s
technique. A flashback is when the storyline jumps backward tone to a large extent influences the perception of the ideas and
to show something that has happened before the main events events explored in the work. In real life, we say that it is not
of the novel and that has relevance to the present story. necessarily what is said but how it is said – the tone in which it is
Foreshadowing is when the narration hints at things that will said. The tone of a writer could be any of the following:
happen but have not happened yet. Authors might also use a contempt, condemnation, hostility, admiration, censure,
frame story, a secondary story that is not the main story of commendation, or exhortation. The tone in a particular text could
the novel but through which the main story is told. A frame be one or a combination of two or more and is discernible, most
story may, as in Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness," be a of the times, in the attitude of the writer to characters.
character in the future remembering what has happened in the Mood is the general feeling we get when we are reading a
past. A frame story may also be, as in Emily Bronte's particular story. It could be an atmosphere of violence, harmony,
"Wuthering Heights," a character learning of the main story peace, horror and so on. Atmosphere is evoked in a work through
as the reader does. the writer’s manipulation of language. The writer uses his
SYMBOLISM descriptive ability to convey or heighten the intensity of
Another important narrative technique is symbolism. A atmosphere in work.
symbol is a thing that signifies something else. Symbols in
novels are often ambiguous. For instance, in "The Great The Differences between a Short Story and a Novel
Gatsby," much of the action takes place beneath the eyes of -Length: the most obvious difference between the two is their
an advertisement. You could argue that these eyes symbolize length. The short story can be read in one sitting, whereas the
many things: They might be the eyes of God or the eyes of novel, which is longer takes time to build suspense, reveal
the reader or the eyes of Nick, the story's narrator. Some information about the characters, and so on. The short story
readers have even interpreted the eyes as a symbol of writer, however, does not have these liberties.
consumer culture. -Climax: a novel is not simply a series of short stories strung
NARRATIVE STRUCTURE together. It must have a cumulative effect to the reader and a
Narrative structure consists of the traditional parts of a story series of climaxes that all point to the final climax in the book.
and the order in which the reader encounters them; these Each scene is inevitably tied to the one that follows and builds
provide a framework for the unfolding of the story. Often tension, curiosity, interest, and anticipation. A short story, on the
represented visually as a triangle, these parts consist of other hand, has a tight plot that leads to only one climax most of
exposition or beginning, rising action, climax, falling action, the time.
and resolution or denouement. Narrative structure can take a -Setting: a novel can read like a movie, as each section or chapter
variety of forms, often depending on the genre of the story. can take place in a different setting. These settings may be critical
For example, a writer who wishes to build tension may begin to the story or they just may be the settings for different scenes.
with a dramatic flashback before visiting the initial events of Short stories only employ one setting, for the most part. The
a story. Further, with the development of digital narrative, a reason for this is because short stories cover a very brief period.
writer may provide links to other parts of a story so that the So, the story may take place in one day, whereas novels can cover
months or years.