Prose fiction is imaginative literature that is not intended to be factually true or false. It uses invented characters, dialogue, narration, and description. There are different types based on length and complexity, including short stories, novellas, and novels. A short story is typically around 2,000 words and focuses on a single effect or episode through few characters, incidents, scenes, and settings. Experts note that short stories require extreme economy of words and focus, with no excess words unrelated to the central story or theme.
3. PROSE FICTION
(In broad sense)
prose fiction is imaginative literature
It is literature that is not intended to be, and is not
judged by the usual standard of truth and falsity.
It is imaginative, in the sense that it is a work of
imagination, which is different from an essay, which
also prose but not fiction.
4. Characters of prose fiction
1 Prose fiction is fiction in the broad literary sense
2 Prose fiction is no dramatic
3 Prose fiction is narrative, it is tell a story
4 Prose fiction is descriptive
5 a piece of prose fiction is prose
Thus, a piece of prose fiction is prose, invented, has
dialogue, narration, and description.
5. Type of Kind of Prose Fiction
(based on length, complexity of theme and development of character and plot)
Prose Fiction
short story
the novella or novelette
the novel
6. Short Story
The short story is the essence of economy, consisting of
approximately 2.000 words, but length is not the sole criteria for a
short story
• The writer must make
• Few characters
every word count
• Few incidents
• Scenes • A short story writer
• Episodes must always be aware of
• Few settings inconsistencies in
style, in tone and point
of view
Structurally Stylistically
7. Some of Experts Opinion about Short Story
Steinmann and Willen, 1967 : 120
The short story must strive to achieve modest effects-
usually a single effect, it has “neither the resources nor
the time to achieve anything more”
Eugene C. Garcia and Walton R. Patrick in What is the short Story, 1961 : 5)
“He seems quite aware of the economy of word in the story, so
that no word having no relation to the story can be printed in
the story”
8. Some of Experts Opinion about Short Story
Burroway, 1987 : 15
A short story is short, and can waste no words. The
short story can deal with only one or a very fe
consciousnesses.
Swan, 1983 : 3
“He seems quite aware of the economy of word in the story, so
that no word having no relation to the story can be printed in
the story”