A novella and a novel may seem the same, but there are distinct differences between the two literary genre.
Novel
A novel is a long narrative in prose that describes fictional characters and events. The word novel is derived from the word novella, an Italian word for “new.” The earliest novels were written from the first century BC to the second century AD. These include classical Greek and Latin prose narratives. Chariton’s Callirhoe is believed to be the oldest surviving Western novel while Miguel de Cervantes’s Don Quixote is considered the first modern novel.
Novels are categorized into different genres: supernatural, thriller, fantasy, romance, Western, paranormal, adventure, etc. Literary genres vary depending on their content, characters, goals and setting. Each of these genres has various subcategories.
Examples of novels:
Novella
A novella is a written fictional prose narrative that is shorter than a novel and longer than a short story. It was introduced to literature in the early Renaissance, but began to be established as a literary genre in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century.
Novellas contain fewer characters, themes, and conflicts than a novel; and the timeline of a novella tends to be short. It generally does not contain chapters and is meant to be read in one sitting.
Examples of novellas:
Key Differences
Novel: It has around 50,000 to 100,000 words.
Novella: It has around 20,000 to 40,000 words.
Novel: It has a complex plot.
Novella: It has a less complex plot.
Novel: It contains lot of characters, themes, and subthemes.
Novella: It contains less characters and themes.
Novel: It is divided into chapters and sometimes volumes.
Novella: It is not generally divided into chapters.
Novel: It can be read in a few days.
Novella: It can be read at one sitting.
In the literary world, the novel and the novella stand out because of their popularity and widespread presence. These two genres have influenced the literary landscape, offering readers diverse narrative experiences that can only enrich and deepen our appreciation and understanding of life.
Sources:
Become a Writer Today. “Novella vs. Novel: What’s the Difference?” Last modified January 4, 2024. https://becomeawritertoday.com/novella-vs-novel/.
De Silva. “Difference between Novel and Novella.” Last modified September 10, 2015. https://pediaa.com/difference-between-novel-and-novella/.
Panzera, Darlene. “Fiction Writing: 5 Key Differences between a Novel and a Novella.” Last modified June 5, 2022. https://www.aspiringwriteracademy.com/fiction-writing-5-key-differences-between-a-novel-and-a-novella/.
