Final answer:
A novel differs from a short story by offering more expansive character development, typically featuring a larger cast of characters with their own stories and spanning a longer time period.
The correct answer is option C) A novel often gives minor characters their own stories.
Step-by-step explanation:
One way that a novel differs from a short story is that a novel often gives minor characters their own stories. While a short story typically focuses on a small cast of characters and a relatively short time span, a novel has a more expansive scope, including a larger cast of characters and often multiple settings.
Additionally, the narrative in a novel can span a much longer time. Novels have the space to develop subplots and explore the backgrounds and perspectives of a variety of characters, which enriches the main storyline and provides a deeper understanding of the fictional world.