Prose vs. Poetry
Whether you are having a conversation with a friend or giving a presentation for school, you are probably using prose. Prose is language that applies a natural flow to speech and utilizes an ordinary grammatical structure. Literature, journalism, film, and law all rely on prose to convey meaning and create style. There are four distinct types of prose that most writers use, all for different mediums and formats.
The first is nonfictional prose: prose that tells a true story. Textbooks, autobiographies, newspaper articles, and diaries are all examples of nonfictional prose.
The second type of prose is fictional prose - the polar opposite of nonfictional prose. Fictional prose is likely the most popular type of prose in literature, forming the backbone of make-believe stories that have enticed readers for generations. Take the Harry Potter series, the Percy Jackson series, and The Hunger Games series; most books that hit the bestseller list use fictional prose. Novels and short stories that employ fictional prose often consist of characters, a plot, a setting, and dialogue.
An uncelebrated form of prose is heroic prose, which is passed down through oral tradition. The Odyssey and The Iliad are two famous examples of heroic prose.
Lastly, there is prose poetry - poetry written in prose form. Traditional poetry, in contrast to the follows a rhythmic structure that uses meter and rhyme. In a poem, specific words are meticulously chosen in an effort to create either rhyme or rhythm. The sonnet - a famous type of poem - was heavily used by Shakespeare in his plays, and has fourteen lines, all of which use iambic meters. Another popular poem originally from Japan, the haiku consists of three lines with a specific number of syllables. The first line has five syllables, the second has seven, and the third has another five. Prose poetry, however, retains standard lyrical and metric elements of traditional poetry. However, it simultaneously incorporates the elements of prose, such as the use of punctuation and no line breaks.
There are some key differences between prose and poetry:
Prose is writing that is used everyday for the most basic of things. Poetry is only used to express something in a special or artistic way.
Prose traditionally arranges its sentences into paragraphs. Poetry is written in verses (single lines) that are grouped into stanzas.
Prose follows punctuation and grammar conventions, such as placing a period after a sentence and capitalizing the first word in each sentence. Poetry offers more flexibility; some poets choose to not capitalize or use punctuation at all!
While the language of prose can be rhythmic and flowery at times, it is more often than not direct and straightforward. Poetry almost always uses expressive and creative language.
Although prose and poetry seem radically different, they do have some similarities.
Both prose and poetry can include figurative language, such as similes, metaphors, or personification. Figurative language helps to emphasize a message; it increases a message’s scrutability and generally makes writing more interesting. Therefore, it is found in almost all types of writing.
Both forms of writing can convey abstract ideas, making it more difficult to dissect a message. That said, poetry is usually more difficult to interpret than prose.
Writers who use prose are similar to poets in that they care about word choice and word arrangement. All things considered, poets place more emphasis on these aspects since poetry depends on them more.
Overall, prose and poetry are both useful forms of literature that are used to express messages or ideas. Each form has plenty of benefits and advantages, and may be best fit for certain scenarios. There are times where it would make more sense to use prose, and vice versa. It is really up to you and your style choices as a writer!
References:
Master Class. (2020, November 8). What is prose? Learn about the differences between prose and poetry with examples. Master Class. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-prose-learn-about-the-differences-between-prose-and-poetry-with-examples#4-common-types-of-prose.
S, Surbhi. (2018, December 12). Difference between prose and poetry. Key Differences. https://keydifferences.com/difference-between-prose-and-poetry.html.
