What was the essence of a novel?

For example, the Buddha and Guanyin that people believed in in reality came from Journey to the West. Was it purely fictional or did they already exist when Wu Chengen wrote Journey to the West?

Answer 1

The essence of a novel is a fictional art form that presents an expression of emotions, thoughts, or values to the reader through the creation of fictional characters, plots, and scenes. The novel could convey the author's dissatisfaction with the real world, the exploration of human nature, the thinking of social problems, or the perception of life, love, friendship, and other topics. As a form of literature, novels can improve the readers 'cultural quality and aesthetic standards by creating characters, depicting plots, using language and other means to resonate with the readers and experience emotions.