Most prose fiction is presented in the form of a novel, novella or short story.

The word ‘novel’ comes from Latin and Italian origin and means 'new’. Novels became popular with readers in the 18th century, so are a fairly new type of fiction compared with poetry and drama.

Prose texts are usually defined by their length, though there are other differences:

Short stories

• Tell a complete story in a few thousand words.
• Have a limited number of characters.
• Are sometimes more about conveying an atmosphere than plot.
• Often leave questions unanswered for the reader to think about.

Some writers are famous for their short stories. Edgar Allen Poe is a famous American short story writer from the 19th century. His short story The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1841) is considered to be one of the first examples of a detective story.

Novellas

• Are mid-way in length between short stories and a full-length novel.
• Usually have one plot-line.
• Are not always divided into chapters.

Some novellas you may have heard of are Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol or John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. Although these forms are short, they provide the reader with a vivid snapshot of life and have well developed characters.

Novels

• Are a relatively modern form of literature compared to plays and poetry.
• Often have a number of different plot lines which can support or contrast each other.
• Usually have several characters and their stories.
• Are often divided into chapters.
• Normally tie up all the loose ends by the end of the book.

Some famous novels which you might have heard of include: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, and Vanity Fair by William Thackeray.