Prose is defined as texts and utterances, which are not bound by verses, rhymes or rhythms (metrum). Therefore prose is also called unbound speech. It includes the everyday language, but also the artistically designed form in the literature (art prose). A special form, which is between bound and unbound speech, is the free rhythms.
term
The terminology is derived from the Latin prosa oratio, which can be translated with a straightforward speech. As a result, translation already reveals what is at stake: namely, a form of speech which is not curved by a rule and thus bound in some way.
But even if the prose of poetry is distinguished by the fact that it is not bound to verse, rhymes or metra, it has the possibility to be artistic. Thus she has the ability to poetic, through style, melody, figuration, rhythm and choice of words. However, it is not bound to it!
Originally, the term was used for scientific writings and thus meant any written fixation that was not a kind of poetry. This means that texts were regarded as prose, which had historical, scientific and philosophical contents, or merely notes.
In return the lyric was written in verse form and was intended mainly for the oral lecture. This very general confinement lasted well into the eighteenth century. Later, the term was then a collective name for all forms of speech that could not be described as lyric.
In antiquity, a distinction was made between the bound speech (epic, lyric, drama) as a form of poetry and a proper and appropriate representation in prose (philosophy, history). It was not, therefore, narrated in prosects, why it was used as a form of representation only much later than the narrative narrative.
There are isolated prose works in the various literary poems, but the unambiguous triumph of prose begins with the advent of the modern age, which, with the advent of a new narrative, the novel, quickly becomes a poetically equivalent expression and produces numerous literary genres (Novella, narrative, saga, memoirs, short stories etc.).
Note: Although almost all texts can be classified as lyric, the term mostly refers to the literary genre of the epic, and primarily to the novel as the epic main medium and the short story (short prose).
Structure of prose
As described, it differs from the poem, that is, the lyric, mainly in that it does not follow a fixed linguistic scheme. It is true that prose can have poetic traits, but its essential feature is its independence. Let us look at their structure.
In contrast to the lyric, texts of this kind follow a grammatical norm. This means that the works basically follow the rules of the grammar, even if there are, of course, exceptions. However, there are no other restrictions, so that the language is largely free.
Nevertheless, poetic elements can be used in the prosext. For example, some text is based on a definite sequence of ups and downs, metric structures, or other elements of the verse. A very strong approach is called a prosperity.
Such a poem does not have any definitive elements such as verses or end rhymes, but can otherwise draw all the available lyric registers (inner rhymes, assonances, stylistic means) and is therefore the lyrical processing of an epic material in rhythmic, sonorous and pictorial prose.
Prosperity is, therefore, between prose and free rhythms. Free rhythms are unbounded verses with an arbitrary syllable number and without a continuous metrum, as well as a different number of lifts and depressions. The verses need not be in stanzas, even if verse groups are conceivable. Free rhythms are characterized by recurring rhythms.
Utility and literary prose
As can be seen, every text that does not belong to lyricism can be regarded as prose. Within this rather simple limitation one differentiates two main types of prose: the usage prose and the literary prose.
Utility texts, including commercial literature, are texts that have been written for a specific purpose and remain tied to it. As such we know, for example, the speech, the conversation, the letter or the article as well as the subject text (eg legal texts or instructions for use)
Literary prose means texts that are commonly referred to as stories or stories. It is characterized by an artistic value and also uses word-choice, sentence-building, language melody, pictorial character, and linguistic rhythm.
Short overview: The most important thing about prose at a glance
As a prose, all texts which can not be attributed to lyricism are commonly described. Consequently, all the literary texts of the epic and the language of conversation fall under these conditions. To be distinguished are everyday language and art prose.
The main difference here is that lyric poetry is usually written in a tied speech and structures such as the meter, the rhyme, and the rhythm are subdivided, while the prosects appear unbound and follow only grammatical rules.
Between these two poles the free rhythms and also the prose poem can be classified. Both forms are based on elements of both areas and are used by them. A clear boundary is sometimes difficult.
Note: The adjective “prosaic” can be misleading. It is also the literary-language expression for “sober, factual, dry” and “without fantasy”. Consequently, the context must be examined to ensure that the prose is meant.