We have changed our privacy policy. In addition, we use cookies on our website for various purposes. By continuing on our website, you consent to our use of cookies. You can learn about our practices by reading our privacy policy.

Literature Glossary

Don’t be an oxymoron. Know your literary terms.

Over 200 literary terms, Shmooped to perfection.

Prose

Definition:

If the lines of whatever you're reading go all the way to the end of the paper or screen, congratulations, you're reading prose. It's really that simple.

Prose is everything that's not poetry, which means you're reading prose right now.

But alas,
now you are
not.

Novels? Prose (for the most part). Newspapers? Prose. Your biology textbook? Prose. And if you ever find a biology textbook written in poetry, by all means, please send it our way.

Tags: General, Novel