Short Story vs. Novella vs.

Novel

Most people around the world must be experienced with reading story during his or her
lifetime. Commonly, the story is a narrative. It can be in form of short story, novella, and novel
which are genres of prose fiction. But, there are still some people does not know that short story,
novella, and novel are different. Actually, there are several differences between short story,
novella, and novel.

First, short story, novella, and novel are differentiated based on their length. Short story is
a short narrative that less than novella and novel. According to Mathew (1994 as cited in Tucan,
2014) that short story is simpler than novel. It is due to it has 3.500 until 7.500 words. Besides,
Meer(2016) says, short story can be read just in one sitting On the other side, novella is a longer
narrative than short story, but shorter than novel. Meer (2016) says that novella is considered as
long short story and short novel. It usually has 17.000 until 40.000 words. At the same time,
according to Meer (2016), novel is a fiction work in the form of narrative. It has more than
40.000 words. Therefore, novella is considered as the longest narrative.

Second, they are differentiated based on their content. Based on Meer (2016), short story
only has a single conflict and few characters. It also has one plot and covers a short of time. It is
due to short story just focuses on one event. While novella has more conflicts, plots, and
characters. Swanson (2017) asserts, even the characters are more than short story, but it less than
novel. On the other hand, novel is more complex than short story and novella. Azhari (2017) also
asserts, novel has a lot of characters, settings, plot, and also conflicts. Swanson (2017) and Tucan
(2014) say, the characters in the novel are more developed rather than in the novella and short
story through the experiences in the story.

However, short story, novella and novel are not the same even they are about narrative. It
can be differentiated based on the length and content. It shows that short story is the shortest and
simplest, while novel is the longest and most complex. In fact, novella is in the middle between
short story and novel.
References:

Azhari, Y. R. (2017). The Representation of a Child Worldview in Emma Donoghue’s Room.

Goodyer, M. G. (2008). Literary Theory, The Novel and Science Media.

Meer, S. H. (2016). Differences Between a Short Story, Novelette, Novella, & a Novel.
Retrieved from https://owlcation.com/humanities/Difference-Between-A-Short-Story-Novelette-
Novella-And-A-Novel

Swanson, T. R. (2017). What Is the Difference Between Novels, Novellas & Short Stories?.
Retrieved from https://penandthepad.com/difference-novels-novellas-short-stories-7942025.html

Tucan, G. (2014). What Is a Short Story Besides Short? Questioning Minds in Search of
Understanding Short Fiction.