What is the difference between Impressionism and Expressionism in literature?

To answer your question, one must first define both
Impressionism and Expressionism.

Impressionism was a period
which emerged in the Nineteenth century and was prominent during the 1870s and 1880s.
Impressionistic literature characteristically detailed the author's impression (idea,
opinion, or feeling about something) regarding a scene. Impressionism is sometimes
related to symbolism given that impressionists characteristically offer a description of
life using emotions and sensations.

Expressionism was a
period which emerged during the late Nineteenth century and moved into the early
Twentieth. This movement was most prominent from 1910 to 1925. Expressionistic
literature characteristically detailed

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distorted objective features of the sensory world
using symbolism and dream-like elements in their works illustrating the alienating and
often emotionally overwhelmed
sensibilities.

While both
movements relied upon the senses, Expressionists focused upon the overwhelming aspects
of emotions while Impressionists used emotions to describe life in
general.

Basically, Expressionists are using their emotions
to define their words and Impressionists are using their words to define their
emotions.