DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sjahss.2025.v13i09.003

Pages: 308-311

Ruskin Bond’s fictional work The Room on the Roof is not a full-length novel; rather, it falls into the genre of the novella. Whether a fictional work qualifies as a novel or a novella depends on various characteristics such as length, narrative focus, character development, setting, and time span. This article analyzes The Room on the Roof by applying these criteria. The findings reveal that the work is relatively short, with a limited narrative focus, a concise setting, and a brief time span. In summary, the work fits more appropriately into the category of a novella. This article also defines both the novel and the novella, highlighting their subtle differences and illustrating the defining characteristics of each genre. In terms of word count, subject matter, and plot complexity, The Room on the Roof aligns more closely with the novella form. In contrast, a novel typically features a greater word count, more pages, a more complex plot, and a broader narrative scope.