The Genre Dynamics of Henry James's Novellas: Structural Density, Psychological Realism, and Strategic Ambiguity

Henry James's novellas occupy a distinctive position between the compactness of the short story and the broader narrative development of the novel. Their generic identity is determined not simply by length but by a particular interaction of structural concentration, psychological depth, and interpretative openness. This paper examines the genre dynamics of James's novellas through three interrelated features: structural density, psychological realism, and strategic ambiguity. Particular attention is given to Daisy Miller, The Aspern Papers, The Turn of the Screw, and The Beast in the Jungle. The analysis demonstrates that James uses the novella as a concentrated narrative form in which external action is limited while psychological and ethical implications are considerably expanded. His restricted perspectives, selective details, delayed revelations, and unresolved interpretative tensions make ambiguity a structural principle rather than an accidental effect. The study argues that James's contribution to the development of the novella lies in transforming a relatively compact prose genre into a sophisticated form capable of representing unstable perception, moral uncertainty, and the complexity of individual consciousness.