Novels
Novels are extended fictional narratives typically composed in prose, encompassing a structured story with characters, a series of events, and a conclusion. Generally ranging from eighty thousand to one hundred twenty thousand words, they are recognized as a prevalent literary form in contemporary culture. While some scholars trace the origins of the novel to the eighteenth century, the roots of book-length fiction can be found as far back as ancient Greece. Novels cover a wide array of genres, including fantasy, horror, romance, mystery, science fiction, and Western, often adhering to familiar patterns within each genre.
Key components of a novel include characters, dialogue, plot, point of view, setting, and theme, each contributing to the overall narrative experience. The distinction between literary and commercial fiction hinges on style rather than quality, with literary works focusing more on character development and thematic depth, while commercial fiction emphasizes plot-driven narratives. The evolution of the novel has been influenced by historical developments in publishing, such as the invention of the printing press, which democratized access to literature and allowed for diverse storytelling practices. Overall, the novel remains a vital and dynamic form of expression, reflecting a wide range of human experiences and cultural contexts.
On this Page
Novels
Novels are long fictional narratives, usually prose, that tell a story with characters, a series of events that create a story arc, and an ending. They are typically between eighty thousand and one-hundred-and-twenty-thousand words. Many academics regard novels as a relatively modern literary form, tracing them to the eighteenth century, but book-length stories that fit a loose definition of the novel date to antiquity.
In modern times, novels are the most popular book form. In the first six months of 2023, adult fiction sold more than eighty-nine million print units in the United States. Publishers produce them in many genres and subgenres, including fantasy, horror, romance, mystery, science fiction, and Western. Books within these genres usually follow predictable patterns; for example, romance novels often involve two characters who realize an attraction to one another, overcome obstacles, and then conclude they are meant to be together. A mystery involves a crime or the potential for a crime, one or more characters who piece together clues and deduce the identity of the culprit, and the apprehension of the guilty party.
Background
Western prose narratives that loosely fit the definition of a novel emerged around the first century BCE in Greece. These include the historical romance Callirhoe by Chariton, the adventure saga The Golden Ass by Apuleius, and the satirical tale Satyricon by Petronius. True Story by Lucian, another adventure journey, includes extraterrestrials and a visit to the moon.
Eastern narratives regarded as novels date to the eleventh century CE. Among the most well-known is The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu, a Japanese noble. This 1021 work follows Hikaru Genji, the son of an emperor who is demoted to the status of a commoner. The Tale of the Lady Ochikubo, which predates Gengi, is a wicked-stepmother story written by an unknown author. About this time, published books became more common in China, and, soon after, traditionally oral works were adapted for print as novels.
In Europe, literature was mainly written in verse form until the thirteenth century. Gradually, prose became more common, offering writers greater freedom. However, literacy was primarily limited to the wealthy, and books remained expensive. The printing press, invented by Johannes Gutenberg in the fifteenth century, completely upended publishing in Europe. Instead of laboriously copying texts by hand, typesetters could produce dozens of copies relatively quickly, and with further improvements, output greatly increased. At this time, writers were producing prose novellas with basic plot structures.
In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, printing presses were increasingly common, printing was inexpensive, and more people were literate. Publishers began churning out children’s stories, folk tales, nursery rhymes, poems, and other fiction. Nonfiction, such as political and religious texts, also proliferated.
Experts cite the seventeenth century as the starting point for the truly modern novel. Many say Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes contains many elements of modern novels, such as social commentary, varied characters, and a contemporary setting. Both Robinson Crusoe (1719) by Daniel Defoe and the epistolary novel Pamela (1741) by Samuel Richardson have at times been credited as the first modern English novel.
The eighteenth century saw an explosion of genres and topics, such as gothic romance, and literary periods, such as romanticism. This period birthed many popular genres, including fantasy, science fiction, and thriller.
Overview
Authors may choose multiple genres, mix genres, or create new novel forms. Generally, novels are either literary or entertainment; the latter type is also called “commercial,” “mainstream,” or “popular fiction.” This distinction is not based on the quality of the work but rather on style. Literary fiction usually unfolds at a slower pace and emphasizes style and characterization, or how the author has developed the characters through action, dialogue, interaction, narration, and other techniques. Literary fiction is less likely than popular fiction to have a happy ending and more likely to address timeless themes. Commercial fiction usually has a strong plot line that includes more action, often including danger, excitement, and risk. The plot is more important than the characterization and language is typically fairly straightforward.
Novels consistently contain several major elements. These include chapter division, characters, dialogue, plot, point of view, setting, and theme. Chapter division allows the author to organize events and advance the plot. Chapters also serve as an easy way to transition between characters, settings, times, and points of view. Authors often end chapters with a cliffhanger; for example, a chapter may end with one character in peril, but the next chapter focuses on a different character or events occurring in another location. Authors may also change scenes within chapters.
Characters serve many purposes. The main character, who is most developed by the author and whose conflict advances the plot, is the protagonist. The character who provides the conflict and stands in the way of the protagonist is the antagonist. Dialogue, or conversation, is an important element of character development because it reveals personality, attitudes, and other elements and helps the reader understand what is happening. Dialogue can also be used to develop or expand upon conflict or tension.
The plot is the change that happens as events in the story occur. The plot involves actions in the storyline and emotions in the characters. The plot ends soon after the journey ends, whether the author is exploring events as characters overcome challenges or when an emotional arc has been completed. The achievement is often the climax of the plot, after which the writer brings the story to a close. The point the author wants to make is the theme of a novel. Examples of common themes include growing up, seeking redemption, or finding love.
The point of view, or the perspective from which the story is told, determines what information the reader is given. First-person narration, for example, filters all information through a character, generally the narrator. This point of view may shift between characters. Authors often use third-person omniscient and third-person limited points of view. An omniscient narrator provides the reader with thoughts and feelings of all the characters, while the third-person limited narration provides deep insight into only one character.
The time and place of a story make up the setting. These details do more than give characters space and time for action; they also help shape the story. A tale taking place at the seashore will differ from events in a rainforest, even if the plot is virtually identical. Setting may influence how characters look, act, and speak.
Bibliography
Barron, Kaelyn. “The History of the Novel: From Classical Greece to Postmodernism.” TCK Publishing, www.tckpublishing.com/history-of-the-novel/. Accessed 10 Nov. 2023.
Milliot, Jim. “Book Sales Continue to Slow Down in First Half of 2023.” Publishers Weekly, 7 July 2023, www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/92735-book-sales-continue-to-slow-down-in-first-half-of-2023.html. Accessed 10 Nov. 2023.
Mokkil, Vineetha. “The Purpose of Fiction.” Litro Magazine, 29 Sept. 2016, www.litromagazine.com/on-writing/the-purpose-of-fiction/. Accessed 10 Nov. 2023.
Moore, Steven. The Novel: An Alternative History. Bloomsbury Academic, 2010.
Moore, Steven. “The Novel Is Centuries Older than We’ve Been Told.” The Guardian, 23 July 2010, www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2010/jul/23/novel-centuries-older. Accessed 10 Nov. 2023.
Seifert, Christine. “The Case for Reading Fiction.” Harvard Business Review, 6 Mar. 2020, hbr.org/2020/03/the-case-for-reading-fiction. Accessed 10 Nov. 2023.
“What Is a Novel?” Writer’s Digest Shop, writersdigestshop.com/pages/how-to-write-a-novel. Accessed 10 Nov. 2023.