Novel Vs Drama: Difference Between Novel & Drama

NOVEL VS DRAMA

While studying different forms of English literature, it becomes an interesting exercise to compare novel with drama. Novel is the latest form of English literature whereas drama existed even during the middle ages. Drama emerged from Chorus and became more widely read form of literature during the 16th century in English literature. ‘Ralph Roister Doister’ (1566) by Nicholas Udall was the first comedy and ‘Gorboduc’ (1561) by Thomas Norton and Thomas Sackwill was the first tragedy of English literature. On the other hand, novel emerged from Italian ‘Novellas’ written by Boccaccio (‘Decameron’) during the 14th century. Daniel Defoe’s ‘Robinson’s Crusoe’ (1719) or Samuel Richardson’s ‘Pamela’ (1741)  is regarded as the first novel of English literature.

DEFINITIONS OF NOVEL & DRAMA:

Novel: “Novel is a fictitious prose narrative of considerable length in which realistic characters and events are presented in a complex plot.”

Drama: “Drama is an old story told in the eye, a story put into action by living performances.” 

SIMILARITIES BETWEEN NOVEL & DRAMA:

Though novel and drama are two distinct forms of English literature, they both share some common features. Both novel and drama have some common elements like character, plot, dialogues, setting, philosophy of life and so on. 

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN NOVEL & DRAMA:

Both novel and drama represent life and human nature. However, there are many differences between as discussed below.

1. Novel is a pure form of literature, a ‘Pocket Theatre’ (Marion Crawford), but drama is not a pure form of literature because it requires the help of stage setting.

2. The success of a novel entirely depends on its own art as a novelist. On the other hand, the success of a drama depends how well it is reproduced by the actors on the stage.

3. The novelist enjoys the freedom and scope of narration; it is in narrative form. But the dramatist has some limitations; “drama must be finished within a single revolution of the sun.” (Aristotle); it is in the form of action.

4. The novel lacks the element of liveliness, vividness whereas drama is full of life and vividness as it is performed live on the stage.

5. Novel which is “a pocket theatre”, can be read anytime and anywhere but drama consumes time and demands separate free time to go to the theatre.

6. In novel, the characters are introduced and developed by the novelist himself but in drama, the actors introduce and develop themselves or sometimes they are introduced by chorus.

7. In novel, few dialogues are used, focus is more on narration. But in drama, dialogues form the most important part. There is no scope of narration.

8. For writing a novel, one does not need any knowledge other than narrative techniques. Whereas for writing a play, one needs to have thorough knowledge of stage conditions, limitations of properties, costumes etc.

CONCLUSION:

Hence, we may sum up by saying that both novel and drama are the most popular forms of literature in the present day world. Novel emerged from Italian ‘Novellas’ whereas Drama emerged from ancient Greek Chorus. Drama became popular during the 16th century whereas Novel became popular during the 18th & 19th centuries. Novel enjoys the freedom of narration and lacks the vividness whereas drama is full of liveliness but has the limitation of stage conditions and setting. 

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