Historical Fiction

Historical Fiction

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To write historical fiction, you need to draw on sources, facts and information.

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Tonight’s Agenda

• Any questions?• Lecture about Historical Fiction• Pick an historical fiction to read• Break• Discuss the Realistic Fiction you’ve read

• History is perhaps the most difficult subject to teach.

• However, educators have learned that teaching history through narratives, or stories, is the most effective way for students to learn about the past.

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The Problem With History Textbooks:

• They need to cover so much information, that they can’t do justice to any event, person or concept.

• The people are missing.• Since history texts are rooted in

facts, there is no room for anyone’s historical perspectives. So what is historical fiction? It is

technically any story set in the past. 5

What Makes Good Historical Fiction?

• It must be set in the past.• Sometimes the focus is not on

events in history, but rather on an imaginary plot

that is accurately set in a particular period & place from the past.

• Other times, the novel includes an actual historical event, like the Revolutionary War in Johnny Tremain. 6

Historical Fiction is judged by the same criteria as other fiction; strength of character, development of plot, writing style, definition of setting and handling of theme.

However, some considerations are peculiar to this genre. 7

What historical fiction must have:

• History should not be sugarcoated. When dealing with historical facts, it is important to deal plainly with the truth.

• Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

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• Historical accuracy is required. Because historical fiction is rooted in the facts of the past, accuracy in historical fiction is mandatory. When events are documented, they must not be altered.

• The story must make the historical period come to life. To make the historic period come to life, the author has to recreate the physical setting, the patterns of daily living and the spirit of the times.

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• The author usually reveals the history through the eyes of a young protagonist. The main character must be a

young person to hold the interest of a young reader.

They want to read about

a person like themselves.

• The writing styles should avoid giving too much attention to historical detail. If too many details are included in the writing, it can detract from the storytelling.

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Types of Historical Fiction

• All of the events happened before the life of the author.

• A contemporary novel becomes historical fiction over time. When a current novel in written in 1942, it becomes historical fiction forty years later.

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• Author chronicles their lives in a fictional format. The story can be a fictionalized account of the time period and events of their lives, but is often written years later.

• The protagonist travels back into history. Time travel can be employed as a device to have the character become a part of the story and history.

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TIMELINE OF HISTORICAL

NOVELS

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Prehistoric TimesT. A Dyer’s A WAY OF HIS OWN –tells of a lame boy from a very primitive nomadic tribe who is abandoned by his family and, together with a girl stolen from another tribe, tries to survive a cruel winter.

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Ancient TimesEloise Jarvis McGraw’s bookMARA, DAUGHTER OF THE NILE is about the mistreatedslave of a jewel trader.

Elizabeth George Speare’sBRONZE BOW tells of

Jamin avenging the death of his parents.

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Tales of Early Britain

EAGLE OF THE NINTH andSILVER BRANCHare both by Rosemary Sutcliff, and deal with Englandfighting with the Romans.

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Later Middle Ages

Author Karen Cushmanwrote CATHERINE,

CALLED BIRDY, about the daughterof a baron finding her place in the world.

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The Modern World

THE SHAKESPEARE STEALER is a mysteryby Gary Blackwood set in an acting troupe.

KITE FIGHTER is set in 1473 Korea andSINGLE SHARD is a Newbery Winner about a 13 year old orphanby Linda Sue Park.

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Stories of the Western HemisphereBIRCHBARK HOUSE, by Louise Erdich, is a Native American tale.

LITTLE HOUSE IN THE BIG WOODS

by Laura Ingalls Wilder is told fromthe perspective of the settlers.

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Colonial AmericaElizabeth George Speare won the Newbery Award for THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND.It is the story of a young girlrelocated from the Caribbeanto rural Connecticut and is declared a witch.

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Revolutionary War

JOHNNY TREMAINis perhapsby Esther Forbes, is perhaps thebest know children’s noveldealing with the Revolutionary War.

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The Growing Nation

OUR ONLY MAY AMELIAby Jennifer Holm is

an immigration taleabout a Finnish girl.

PRAIRIE SONGS by Pam ConradGives two viewpoints on Homesteading.

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Civil War EraSILENT THUNDER SHADES OF GRAY

by Andrea Pinkney by Carolyn Reeder

shows how the Civil is the tale of a 12

War effects an 11 yr. yr. old who loses

old slave girl. his entire family.

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Industrial Age

BREAD AND ROSES, TOOby Katherine Paterson

andCOUNTING ON GRACEby Elizabeth Winthropboth tell the storiesof labor conflicts in the early 20th century.

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ImmigrationPatricia Reilly Giff has writtenmany great books about this era of our history,including NORY RYAN’S SONG.

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Great Depression

BUD, NOT BUDDYis a wonderful coming of age story anda Newbery Awardwinning bookby ChristopherPaul Curtis.

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World War I

One of the few children’sfiction booksabout WorldWar I isLORD OF THENUTCRACKER SETby Iain Lawrence

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World War IILILY’S CROSSINGby Patricia ReillyGiff tells of WWII in Europe.

SUMMER OF MY GERMAN SOLDIER

by Bette Greene tells of WWII from America.

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Post World War IITwo books that deal with more recent history

are:WEDNESDAY WARS and CRACKER

by Gary Schmidt by

Cynthia Kadohata

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Value of Historical Fiction

• Help children experience the past.

• Encourages children to think as well as feel.

• By giving children a glimpse into the past, they may learn how to change the present world for the better.

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Next Week’s Assignments:

• Make sure you have a public library card• Make sure all past written assignments are

turned in through Writing Assignment #3.• Pick an Historical Fiction book and read it.

Write a few paragraphs summarizing it and rate it’s “engaged reading quotient” on a scale of 1 to 10. We will share them in class.