What characterizes a novel?

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A novel is characterized as a fictitious prose narrative that spans book length. This means that novels typically have a more extended narrative structure than shorter forms like short stories or poems, allowing for the development of complex plots, characters, and themes. Novels often delve into intricate storylines and character arcs, providing ample space for exploration of various elements such as setting, conflict, and character development. The length and prose format are distinguishing features that set novels apart from other literary forms like poetry and biographies, which have different structural and thematic elements.