Novelize - Definition, Meaning, and Examples in English

Definition

^{Context #1 | Verb}

literary adaptation

To novelize means to adapt a story, event, or narrative into a novel format complete with characters, plot development, and literary embellishments. This process often involves expanding on the original material, providing deeper insights into characters and motivations, and creating a more immersive experience for the reader.

Synonyms

adapt, fictionalize, transform.

Examples of usage

The filmmaker decided to novelize the screenplay to explore the characters' backgrounds.
After the success of the documentary, the author sought to novelize the historical events portrayed.
Many popular movies and video games have been novelized to reach wider audiences.

Interesting Facts

Literature

Famous authors like Stephen King have novelized their own screenplays, adding depth to characters and settings.
The novelization of movies often provides insights that aren't visible on screen, such as inner thoughts of characters.

Film and Television

Many blockbuster films, like 'Star Wars' and 'Jurassic Park', have been novelized, allowing fans to experience the story in a new way.
Novelizations can help expand a film’s universe, adding backstory and side plots that enrich the original narrative.

Cultural Impact

In pop culture, novelizations sometimes receive mixed reviews, with readers either loving the expanded universe or preferring the original film.
Some novelizations have achieved great success, overshadowing their cinematic counterparts by becoming bestsellers.

Psychology

Novelizing can engage readers' imaginations as they visualize scenes differently compared to watching a film.
Readers often connect more deeply with written narratives, which allows them to explore their emotions and thoughts relating to the story.

Origin of 'novelize'

Main points about word origin

The word comes from 'novel,' which is a long story meant to be read, paired with the suffix 'ize,' which means to make or do.
The first known use of 'novelize' dates back to the early 20th century during the rise of adaptations from film to literature.

The term 'novelize' originated in the early 20th century, deriving from the word 'novel,' which itself comes from the Italian 'novella', meaning a new story or tale. Initially, 'novel' in English referred to a new kind of narrative that was distinct from traditional epic poetry or drama. As the literary landscape evolved, so did the practice of taking existing stories from various media, such as plays, films, or real-life events, and reworking them into the more expansive and nuanced form of a novel. The concept of novelization gained traction particularly in the mid-20th century with the rise of popular culture, where movies based on books and vice versa became common, leading to a proliferation of works that aimed to capture the essence of these narratives in novel form. Today, novelization is a recognized practice in the publishing industry, often resulting in works that attain their own popularity, separate from their original mediums.

Novelize Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations