A COMPARATIVE LITERARY ANALYSIS OF THE SHORT STORY AND THE NOVEL

This article presents a comparative literary analysis of the short story and the novel, examining their formal and structural distinctions. While both forms employ narrative techniques to convey human experience, they diverge significantly in scope, characterisation, and reader engagement. The short story is typically brief, concentrated on a single event or emotional moment, and designed to be read in one sitting, producing a sharp and immediate impact. The novel, by contrast, unfolds over a larger narrative canvas, allowing for complex plotlines, multiple perspectives, and in-depth character development. These differences are reflected in pacing, thematic layering, and the relationship between the reader and the text: the short story offers intensity and precision, whereas the novel delivers breadth and sustained immersion. Through this analysis, the study highlights how each form fulfils distinct artistic and communicative purposes within the literary tradition.