• Writing

    Prose Styles – Plainsong and Baroque

    In prose, there are two different styles. Plainsong and Baroque. You might have heard of them. Let me explain each one briefly, and provide an example piece of text telling the same story in the two different styles. Plainsong Short sentences, not many adjectives and adverbs. Blunt and straightforward. The little girl came in. She murmured something to the teacher. She left the room running. The teacher announced the secret to the classroom. The girl had a crush on me. They all laughed. Baroque Ornamented. A lot of subordinate clauses. A lot of adjectives and adverbs, Pile on of detail and syllables. The little girl peeked with scared and longing…