Erzählungs

Erzählungs is a German literary term that translates to "narrative" or "story." It refers to a broad category of prose fiction that tells a story. While it can encompass longer works like novels, it is more commonly associated with shorter forms of fiction such as short stories, novellas, and even anecdotes. The key characteristic of an Erzählung is its focus on a sequence of events, characters, and a particular setting.

The term Erzählung is often used to distinguish these forms from poetry or drama. It implies a narrative structure, often with a beginning, middle, and end, though experimental forms may deviate from this. The scope of an Erzählung can vary greatly; a short story might focus on a single incident or character, while a novella might explore a more complex plot and character development over a longer period but not as extensively as a novel.

In German literary criticism, Erzählung is a foundational term for understanding narrative prose. It emphasizes the act of telling a story and the elements that constitute it, such as plot, characters, narrator, setting, and theme. The term is versatile and can be applied to a wide range of fictional works, from traditional fairy tales to modern short fiction. The focus remains on the art of storytelling itself.