Erzählung

Erzählung is a prose narrative in German literature. It is generally shorter than a novel and longer than a typical short story, though the exact length varies by tradition. An Erzählung centers on a coherent plot with a limited cast of characters and a single, focused situation or effect. The form often aims for concentration and insight, offering psychological observation, social commentary, or a decisive moment that alters the course of the narrative. Realistic, fantastic, and hybrid modes all appear within the category.

Etymology and usage: The term derives from erzählen, to tell. In German literary criticism, Erzählung is a broad category that covers various narrative works, including what English-language criticism might call a short story or a novella. Critics sometimes distinguish between Kurzgeschichte (a brief, tightly focused piece) and Novelle (a more expansive, crisis-driven narrative), with Erzählung occupying an intermediate space.

Form and technique: An Erzählung tends to emphasize a unified narrative arc, with a relatively small number of settings and characters. Time is often compressed, and the action unfolds toward a decisive moment or revelation. The point of view may range from an implicit or explicit narrator to fixed or shifting focalization. The ending may be conclusive or open to interpretation.

History and significance: The Erzählung has a long presence in German prose, flourishing from the 18th century onward and continuing into contemporary writing. It remains a common label in literary history and criticism for narrative prose that is longer and more developed than a short story but shorter or less panoramic than a novel. It is frequently taught and anthologized as a distinct narrative form.