Novel vs. Epic — What's the Difference?

A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the Italian: novella for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itself from the Latin: novella, a singular noun use of the neuter plural of novellus, diminutive of novus, meaning "new".Some novelists, including Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, Ann Radcliffe, John Cowper Powys, preferred the term "romance" to describe their novels.

A series of events considered appropriate to an epic.

A fictional prose narrative of considerable length, typically having a plot that is unfolded by the actions, speech, and thoughts of the characters.

An extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero.

The literary genre represented by novels.

A literary or dramatic composition that resembles an extended narrative poem celebrating heroic feats.

Strikingly new, unusual, or different.

A series of events considered appropriate to an epic

Newly made, formed or evolved; having no precedent; of recent origin; new.

Of, constituting, having to do with, or suggestive of a literary epic

Original, especially in an interesting way; new and striking; not of the typical or ordinary type.

Surpassing the usual or ordinary, particularly in scope or size

A work of prose fiction, longer than a novella.

Heroic and impressive in quality

(historical) A fable; a short tale, especially one of many making up a larger work.

An extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a deity, demigod (heroic epic), other legend or traditional hero.

(obsolete) A novelty; something new.

(computing) In software development, a large or extended user story.

A new legal constitution in ancient Rome.

Of or relating to an epic.

Of recent origin or introduction; not ancient; new; hence, out of the ordinary course; unusual; strange; surprising.

Momentously heroic; grand in scale or character

That which is new or unusual; a novelty.

Extending beyond the usual or ordinary.

News; fresh tidings.

That is an epimorphism.

A fictitious tale or narrative, longer than a short story, having some degree of complexity and development of characters; it is usually organized as a time sequence of events, and is commonly intended to exhibit the operation of the passions, and often of love.

Narrated in a grand style; pertaining to or designating a kind of narrative poem, usually called an heroic poem, in which real or fictitious events, usually the achievements of some hero, are narrated in an elevated style.

A extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story

A long narrative poem telling of a hero's deeds

A printed and bound book that is an extended work of fiction;

Very imposing or impressive; surpassing the ordinary (especially in size or scale);

Of a kind not seen before;

Constituting or having to do with or suggestive of a literary epic;

Pleasantly novel or different;