die  Novelle

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/noˈvɛlə/

📖 What exactly is a 'Novelle'?

The German word die Novelle refers to a literary genre within epic literature. It's a narrative of medium length, typically focusing on a single, extraordinary event – often described in German as an "unerhörte Begebenheit" (unheard-of event).

In German, the word Novelle is always feminine, hence the article is die. There are no other articles or meanings for this specific word in the literary context.

Characteristics of a Novelle often include:

• Focus on a central conflict.
• A concise, goal-oriented plot.
• A clear turning point (Wendepunkt).
• Frequent use of a symbolic object (Dingsymbol - an object carrying deeper meaning).
• A closed form with a distinct beginning and end.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Spotlight: Die Novelle

The noun "Novelle" is feminine. The article is always die.

Example Sentences

1. Goethes "Novelle" ist ein klassisches Beispiel dieser Gattung.
   (Goethe's "Novelle" is a classic example of this genre.)
2. Im Deutschunterricht analysierten wir die Struktur der Novelle.
   (In German class, we analyzed the structure of the novella.)
3. Der Autor widmete sich nach seinem Roman der Novelle.
   (After his novel, the author dedicated himself to the novella.)
4. Ich habe gestern eine spannende Novelle gelesen.
   (I read an exciting novella yesterday.)
5. Viele berühmte Schriftsteller haben auch Novellen verfasst.
   (Many famous writers have also written novellas.)

✍️ How to use 'Novelle'?

The term "Novelle" is primarily used in a literary context, both in literary studies (Literaturwissenschaft) and in general discussions about books.

• Literary Analysis: In schools and universities, die Novelle is analyzed as a specific text type. People discuss its characteristics, structure, and historical development.
• Book Reviews: Critics and readers use the term to classify a work as a Novelle, distinguishing it from longer novels (Romane) or shorter short stories (Kurzgeschichten).
• Comparison with other genres: A Novelle is typically longer than a Kurzgeschichte (short story) and shorter and more focused than a Roman (novel). It concentrates on a central event, whereas a novel often encompasses multiple plotlines and character developments.

⚠️ Do not confuse the literary Novelle with a "Gesetzesnovelle", which means an amendment or supplement to an existing law (Gesetz). Although the word sounds similar, the meaning is completely different and belongs to the domain of law and politics (Recht & Politik).

🧠 Memory Aids for Novelle

For the article "die": Think of other feminine words related to stories like die Geschichte (the story) or die Erzählung (the narrative). Or imagine: A lady (die Dame) elegantly reads die Novelle.

For the meaning: Think of "Novelle" as something novel or new (compare Italian "novella" = news, novelty) – a story about a single, special event, concise but longer than a short story. It's a 'novel-ette'.

🔄 Similar and Contrasting Terms

Similar but Different Terms

• Gesetzesnovelle: As mentioned in the "Usage" section, this refers to a legislative amendment (Gesetzesänderung) and has nothing to do with literature. 🚨 Be careful not to mix them up!

😂 A Little Joke

Warum mögen Novellen keine langen Urlaube?
Weil sie immer einen klaren Wendepunkt brauchen und nicht zu lange vom Thema abschweifen dürfen! 😉

(Why don't novellas like long vacations?
Because they always need a clear turning point and aren't allowed to stray too far from the topic!)

📜 A Poem about the Novelle

Kurz und doch so tief im Sinn,
zeigt die Novelle, was geschah vorhin.
Ein Punkt, der wendet Schicksals Lauf,
nimmt den Leser mit hinauf.
Kein Roman, nicht episch breit,
doch voller Spannung, jederzeit.
Ein Dingsymbol, versteckt, ganz klein,
lässt uns die Botschaft tief versteh'n.

(Short and yet so deep in meaning,
shows the novella what happened before.
A point that turns fate's course,
takes the reader upwards.
No novel, not epically broad,
but full of suspense, at any time.
A symbol-thing, hidden, very small,
lets us understand the message deeply.)

❓ Riddle Time

Ich bin kürzer als ein Roman,
länger als 'ne Kurzgeschichte, nebenan.
Ein unerhörtes Ding steht oft im Zentrum,
mein Artikel ist femininum.
In der Literatur bin ich bekannt,
wie werd' ich genannt?

(I am shorter than a novel,
longer than a short story, next door.
An unheard-of thing is often at the center,
my article is feminine.
In literature, I am known,
what am I called?)

Solution: die Novelle

🧩 Other Information

Word Origin: The word "Novelle" comes from the Italian word novella, meaning "news" or "small piece of news". This reflects the focus on a single, often surprising or indeed "new" event.

Famous German-language Novellen (Novellas):

• Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - "Novelle"
• Theodor Storm - "Der Schimmelreiter" (The Rider on the White Horse)
• Gottfried Keller - "Kleider machen Leute" (Clothes Make the Man)
• Thomas Mann - "Der Tod in Venedig" (Death in Venice)
• Heinrich von Kleist - "Das Erdbeben in Chili" (The Earthquake in Chile)

Typical Structural Features (according to Goethe/Tieck):

• The "unerhörte Begebenheit" (unheard-of event)
• The turning point (Wendepunkt or Peripety)
• The symbolic object (Dingsymbol - often called the "falcon" after Boccaccio's Decameron)
• A clear, often symmetrical structure