"A novel is a static thing that one moves through; a play is a dynamic thing that moves past one"

This quote by Kenneth Tynan speaks with the distinctions in between a novel and a play. A book is a fixed thing, meaning that the reader is the one who moves through the story, taking in the events and characters as they advance. A play, on the other hand, is a vibrant thing, indicating that the action of the story moves past the audience. The audience has the ability to observe the characters and occasions as they unfold in real time, instead of having to envision them as they do when reading a novel. This quote highlights the unique experience of watching a play, rather than reading a novel, and how the two mediums can supply various types of home entertainment.