Types of Prose Narratives: A Text-Book for the Story Writer

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

64210

Title

Types of Prose Narratives: A Text-Book for the Story Writer

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A practical guide for story writers, this text-book categorizes prose narratives into distinct types, from myths and legends to detective stories and society tales. Drawing on historical examples and student exercises, it offers essential definitions, characteristics, and compositional advice to inspire aspiring authors to craft their own narratives with confidence and clarity.

Summary up to 500 words

Harriott Ely Fansler's *Types of Prose Narratives* serves as a comprehensive guide designed to dismantle the myth of the innate literary genius. Instead of relying on inspiration alone, Fansler argues that effective storytelling stems from a structured understanding of craft, historical context, and specific narrative problems. Published in 1911, the text functions as both a classroom resource and a practical workbook for students, offering definitions, historical backgrounds, and practical advice for composing original works across five primary categories: Imaginary Events, Symbolic-Didactic, Ingenious-Astonishing, Entertaining, and Instructive narratives. Within these groups, Fansler explores numerous sub-genres, including myths, legends, fairy tales, fables, parables, allegories, detective stories, and society stories. A defining feature of the book is its commitment to accessibility; it heavily features examples drawn from the writings of Fansler's own students, including Filipino pupils. These contributions demonstrate that high-quality composition is attainable by all, preserving the first written forms of oral traditions while emphasizing that local color, character consistency, and the connection between environment and personality are essential to great writing. Fansler encourages writers to build upon the history of their art rather than attempting to replicate perfect masterpieces, which often paralyze beginners. By providing immediate access to literary examples and student themes, the book fosters a sense of community and possibility, urging writers to solve definite problems at hand while respecting the lineage of their craft. Ultimately, the text aims to inspire a 'zest' for creation by orienting the young writer toward the past and presenting a series of definite challenges, ensuring that the act of writing is dignified and grounded in a rich tradition of human expression.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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2026-08-13 12:38 UTC

Categories

• Storytelling
• English Prose Literature