How do literary critics distinguish between 'story' and 'plot', between a symbol and an image, or between 'tone' and 'mood'? How do we define 'realism', 'modernism', and 'postmodernism'? What do narrative theorists mean by 'frequency' and 'distance'? In the revised, expanded and updated fifth edition of this standard introduction to the novel, these questions and many others are answered in a way that is readable and entertaining without being simplistic. Two new chapters which deal with fiction and the electronic media, and film adaptations of fictional works, are added. Discussion of cyberfiction has been included, the treatment of the novella has been expanded, and more tips on writing essays and answering exam questions are provided. Widely acclaimed for its erudite yet accessible explanations, Studying the Novel is an invaluable guide to the essential concepts and approaches for all students of the novel. It assumes no previous academic study of the subject.