Final answer:
Short stories and novels differ in length, scope, and structure, with short stories focusing on a single incident or aspect of a character's life over a brief period, while novels are longer and more complex.
Step-by-step explanation:
Short stories and novels are both narratives found in fiction, but they do not necessarily contain all the same elements due to differences in length, scope, and structure. The primary difference between the two is a matter of length; novels are longer and more complex, often involving a larger cast of characters, a wider variety of settings, and a more intricate plot that unfolds over a longer period of time.
Conversely, a short story usually focuses on a single incident or aspect of a character's life and typically covers a short period of time, with fewer characters and a more streamlined plot than a novel. A short story often has a turning point or climax which brings the plot in an unexpected direction, often capped with a twist in the ending to sum up the theme and leave an impression on the reader.