Prosa

Prosa is the term used in Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese to designate prose—the form of written or spoken language that is not organized by metrical structure. In these languages, the word also appears in phrases such as prosa poética, which refers to prose with lyrical or elevated qualities.

Prose covers a wide range of writing, including narrative, expository, descriptive, and argumentative forms. It relies on sentences and paragraphs rather than lines of verse. Prose can be plain and direct or rich and ornate, and it often incorporates dialogue, imagery, and figurative language. It is used for fiction (novels, short stories), non-fiction (essays, reportage), and many hybrid forms that blend elements of both.

Historical development: prose has ancient roots in classical civilizations and evolved significantly through medieval and early modern periods. With the rise of the novel and modern journalism, prose became the dominant medium for long-form storytelling and information dissemination in many cultures. Throughout different literary movements, prose styles have ranged from clear, disciplined narration to experimental, avant-garde expressions.

In contemporary usage, prosa can describe everyday, ordinary language, while literary criticism frequently contrasts prose with poetry. A recognized hybrid form is prose poetry, which blends poetic language with prosaic structure. Overall, prosa encompasses the broad spectrum of written or spoken language that communicates meaning without relying on formal verse.