Here's why this was significant:
* Prose is more conversational and natural: It allows for a more realistic and detailed portrayal of characters, dialogue, and events, making the stories feel more relatable and immersive.
* Prose offers more flexibility: It allows authors to explore a wider range of themes and perspectives, moving beyond the constraints of poetic form.
* Prose is more accessible: It is easier to read and understand for a wider audience, making novels more popular than poetry or plays in their time.
While the novel genre emerged in the 17th and 18th centuries, the use of prose as a primary form of storytelling existed before that. However, it was the novel that solidified prose as a major literary form and changed the way people consumed stories.