Literary
Terms
Novella
A novella is a type of prose fiction, which is
shorter than full length novels and longer than short stories. It originates
from an Italian word “novella“, which means “new.” It is a well-structured
short narrative; often satiric or realistic in tone. It usually focuses on one
incident, or issue with one or two main characters and takes place at a single
location.
Novellas are shorter than novels. Novellas have fewer subplots and conflicts than full length novels. The main narrative of a novella is of a straight line and does not have complicated and indirect plot lines, back stories, and multiple
points
of views. Unlike novels, novellas usually do not have chapters. It is mostly
concerned with emotional and personal development of the character rather than
dealing with a larger social sphere and events that usually takes place in one
place or location.
Novellas
are the richest forms of literary genres, because this genre provides a
detailed and intense exploration of the topic, providing both the complete focus
of a short story and a broad scope of a novel. Since novellas have ideal short
length, they are considered a perfect source for film adaptations.
Examples:
Heart
of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
The
Turn of the Screw by Henry James
Billy
Budd by Herman
Melville
Death
in Venice by Thomas Mann
Seize the Day by Saul Bellow
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