A fictional prose which is neither a novel nor a short story is a/an __________

1. Analyze the question You are asked to name a fictional prose form that sits between a novel and a short story, so it is neither one nor the other.

2. Explain the concept Let's look at each option:

• Allegory: a story, poem, or picture where characters and events symbolize deeper moral, political, or spiritual meanings (e.g., Animal Farm). It can be a novel or a short story, so it is not defined by length.
• Fable: a very short story, usually with animals as characters, that teaches a moral lesson. It is closer to a short story.
• Novella: a work of prose fiction longer than a short story but shorter than a novel, usually about 20,000 to 40,000 words. Examples are The Old Man and the Sea and Animal Farm, which is often classed as a novella.
• Novelette: also a mid-length work, but the term is often used for a short, light, sentimental or trivial romance. Some sources use it for a story somewhat shorter than a novella.

3. Solution

• The question asks for the standard intermediate form of fictional prose, one that is neither a novel nor a short story.
• Allegory and fable are defined by their purpose and technique (symbolism, a moral), not by length.
• That leaves novella and novelette. Both describe mid-length fiction, but novella is the standard literary term for fiction between a short story and a novel.

4. Answer The correct option is **C.

5. Exam tip Remember the length ladder: short story → novelette/novella → novel. In WASSCE Literature, "novella" is the safe choice for "in-between" fiction. For allegory and fable, think of purpose (symbolism and moral lessons) rather than length.