Concept

Novel

Overview

narrative text, normally of a substantial length and in the form of prose describing a fictional and sequential story

Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).

Possible passages

Found by search and not yet checked by a person; they may only mention the idea in passing.

There are, then, some national traits in German prose fiction taken by and large. The Germans cannot vie with the English as writers of stories long or short. They have, however, much more to offer than has yet been widely circulated.
Theodor Fontane, German Fiction
The chapter “THE NOVEL IN GERMANY” is titled for Novel; names Novel several times.
Read the chapter · Open in the reader
Unfortunately many dramas are but novels which proceed by dialogue; and it would not be impossible to write a drama in the shape of letters. “But, in the novel, it is chiefly _sentiments_ and _events_ that are exhibited; in the drama, it is _characters_ and _deeds_. The novel must go slowly forward; and the sentiments of the hero, by some means or another, must restrain the tendency of the whole to unfold itself and…
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Goethe's literary essays
Names Novel several times; opens on Novel.
Read the chapter · Open in the reader
"But, in the novel, it is chiefly _sentiments_ and _events_ that are exhibited; in the drama, it is _characters_ and _deeds_. The novel must go slowly forward; and the sentiments of the hero, by some means or another, must restrain the tendency of the whole to unfold itself and to conclude. The drama, on the other hand, must hasten: and the character of the hero must press forward to the end: it does not restrain…
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Wilhelm Meister's apprenticeship and travels, vol. 1
Names Novel several times; opens on Novel.
Read the chapter · Open in the reader

Philosophers who discussed Novel

Related ideas

Opposing perspectives

Humanities

Place in the tradition

Part of Absurdism.

Explore Novel in the interactive graph →