Understanding prose writing

K S Sivakumaran

E M Forster

Emily Bronte

The Punch pages, I guess, are mostly enjoyed by young students in High Schools and undergraduates and perhaps by even adults interested in improving themselves by the suggestions and advice given by eminent and experienced people who write regular weekly columns.

As one of the contributors I have been writing on English Literature and related subjects. This week I wish to help students to know something about the language of prose and similar aspects. Hope they would be helpful.

As we know, in both fiction and non-fiction prose is used.

We would have observed that there are different styles in writing. How do we see the differences? They depend on the kind of words used, the kind of sentences used and the amount and kind of dialogue used in the case of fiction.

Again as lovers of poetry we would have noticed that the poets are fond of using comparisons (similes, metaphors etc) and associations (allusions, for instance) to a great extent. Even prose writers use these for effective purposes, but sparingly.

To write effectively, prose writers very often employ contrast and repetitions

We can easily discern the writer's ideas if we study how he or she presents characters. The writer employs the devise of bringing in characters with contrasting features. The writer also helps us on commenting on the characters.

Invariably the titles of the fiction sum up what the story is about. The events of the story, particularly the ending will reveal the writer's concern and judgments.

Theme

The theme of the story is directed sometimes by the writer's general outlook and the setting. The writer determines or creates the setting and this gives the atmosphere and also reflects the particular moods of the characters.

If we read with interest The Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, we shall note that the landscape and weather and other aspects of settings are effectively used in creating the right atmosphere.

They also reflect what types of characters are there in the fiction. At the same time we must not fail to note that such features are sometimes used symbolically. And most time literally to help convey a theme or idea.

Settings may show how a character behaves and this in turn will affect our own responses to character.

To understand the writer's views and criticisms of the society we must know the social context in which the fiction is written.

Moving specifically to understand the prose used, we can see that how characters play in the fiction. Critics have pointed out that "We learn about characters directly from their speed and actions, indirectly from their appearances, dress, surroundings and the opinion of others."

To find out the characters inner life we depend on the writer's exploration of thoughts and feelings of the characters. As E M Forster had explained in the last century characters may be flat or rounded. According to the functions in the plot characters may develop or remain unchanged. Relationships age developed in the same way as characters and may express the theme of the novel. The way the characters are presented and the language used to describe them shows the writer's attitude to them.

Plots

Now we turn to plots. We are interested to know how the plot develops. The writer should use his prose to arouse our interest, and he may probably do this through characters, situations, setting or atmosphere and sometimes humour.

Conflict, problems which have to be solved, struggle and discovery-all help maintain our interest in the plot. The order in which the story is told leads to suspense. Further showing different points of view and thereby we develop our views about characters and events helps us to appreciate the fiction and the prose employed by the writer.

Narrative

First person narratives give an impression of intimacy to the reader, but they can only be told from one person's point of view. Third person narratives allow the author to know everything about all the characters. They can present several points of view. When there is an imaginary person to whom the story is told, this also affects the way it is told. We should remember that stories have several strands linked by a common theme.

To write well we should read not only good books on the subject but also creative and non creative prose. The classics are good choices, but some contemporary writers too write with precision and elegance to suit the present setting and atmosphere.

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