Historical Fiction

1
Historical Fiction

• Jessica Dockter University of Minnesota 2009
• Adapted from Beth Brendler 2008

2
Historical Fiction

• Reflects life as it was lived in the past
• Imaginative writing
• The history is true accurate
• Requires careful detailed research

3
Helps students understand

• history is created by people
• people living now are tied to people living in
  the past
• what we do now can make a difference in the
  future

4
Historical Fiction

• Gives a human actor / reactor to historical
  incidents
• Extends students personal connections to history
• Makes it is easier to approach difficult issues

5
Scott ODell Award

• Started in 1982 annual
• Writer from US for a meritorious book of
  historical fiction published the preceding year

6
Scott ODell Award

• 2009 -- Laurie Halse Anderson Chains
• 2008 Christopher Paul Curtis Elijah of Buxton
• 2007 Ellen Klages The Green
  Glass Sea
• 2006 Louise Erdrich The Game of
  Silence

7
Historical Realism

• Written as contemporary fiction now historical
  
• Little Women
• Tom Sawyer
• Huck Finn

8
Historical Accuracy

• History interpreted
• Facts understood only in light of the present
• Solid research is essential

9
Historical Research

• Consistent with historical evidence
• Remain within the limits of the chosen historical
  background
• Reflect people who are human, with strength and
  weaknesses
• Authentic social details
• Richly detailed setting

10
Based on Family History

• Bud Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
• Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor

11
Based on Family History

• Birchbark House
• Stories about Erdrichs family who lived on
  Madeline Island in Lake Superior

12
Evaluating Historical Fiction

• Meets criteria for good narrative fiction
• Events and attitudes
• consistent with historical evidence
• appropriate to the time period
• Social issues portrayed honestly, without
  condoning racism and sexism

13
Evaluating Historical Fiction

• THE SETTING
• integral to the story
• VIVID
• consistent with historical and geographical
  evidence (no anachronisms)

14
Evaluating Historical Fiction

• LANGUAGE PATTERNS
• historically authentic
• in keeping with the mood, setting, and
  characterization
• understandable

15
Evaluating Historical Fiction

• Well-developed characters
• feelings, values, and behavior reflect the period
• dynamic (they grow change)
• Plot based on authentic facts
• Theme echoes larger historical concerns

16
Plot and Theme

• Historical facts
• should not overburden the story
• should be part of the background, setting,
  events, characterizations, language, ideas
• Reader should not consciously notice them, yet
  they shape propel the story

17
Plot and Theme

• Themes should reflect a macrocosm of the era and
  microcosm of the story
• Example a war for independence and a personal
  struggle for independence