5: Performing Prose

On Stage, Off Script: Critical Performance Studies · LibreTexts

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    From LibreTexts, under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, as the source states it; its equations are written in TeX, which the PDF shows typeset. This page at LibreTexts.

    Overview

    Prose is natural, everyday language found in stories, essays, speeches, and more. Performers analyze diction, figurative language, syntax, and style to decide how to express meaning through voice and body. In narrative prose, subtle changes help distinguish different characters. Sometimes performers cut the text to keep the flow and focus.

    • 5.1: Defining Prose
      Prose uses natural speech and ordinary syntax, unlike poetry’s rhythm and structure. It often has a narrator and a style shaped by diction, imagery, and syntax to convey meaning. Performers can better analyze and perform prose by understanding key elements like word meanings, genre language, literary devices, and punctuation.
    • 5.2: Performance of Prose
      Prose, written in a natural style, is often the first genre in oral interpretation and can be narrative or expository. Performers analyze voices and characters to create clear, authentic performances using vocal and physical expression. Successful interpretation also includes careful cutting to maintain meaning and engage the audience.
    • 5.3: References

    Thumbnail: CC Public Domain; Further Nonsense Verse and Prose book cover - Lewis Carroll

    This page titled 5: Performing Prose was last modified on Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:50:01 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Stephanie Anderson.