proosan

Proosan is the Estonian term for prose fiction, referring to narrative works written in continuous prose as opposed to poetry or drama. It encompasses forms such as novels, novellas, and short stories, and can include serialized narratives published in journals or magazines. Proosan is defined by fictional content and its use of narrative techniques rather than by subject matter or factual presentation.

Characteristics of proosan include a focus on plot, character development, setting, and point of view. The language is not metrical, and the work relies on descriptions, dialogue, interiority, and narration to convey meaning. Prose fiction can be realist or fantastical, concise or expansive, and it often blends structural experimentation with traditional storytelling.

Types and genres within proosan are varied. The form accommodates realism, historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, literary fiction, and experimental approaches. It can be standalone or part of a larger sequence, and may address personal psychology, social issues, moral questions, or cultural memory. Across cultures, proosan serves as a primary vehicle for exploring imagined worlds and human experience through prose.

Relationship to other forms is characterized by its fictional status and narrative organization. While prose can include non-fictional works, proosan is typically distinguished by its invented content and narrative perspective, allowing authors to construct imagined scenarios and characters.

Historically, prose fiction emerged and evolved alongside literacy, publishing, and national literary traditions. In many languages, including Estonian, the development of proosan paralleled the rise of the novel and short story as dominant modes of narrative art, continuing to evolve with contemporary forms such as autofiction and speculative prose.