looking back… historical fiction a genre study by: julie van huyse
TRANSCRIPT
Looking Back…
Historical Fiction A
Genre StudyBy: Julie Van Huyse
What is Historical Fiction?• Historical Fiction is a genre
that combines a historical context with a fictional story.
• It can include a specific historical event, it can reflect a time in history, and/or include individuals from the past.
• Historical Fiction novels often require the author to perform extensive research about a time, event, or person from history.
Sub-Genres of Historical Fiction
Historical Fantasy
Historical Mystery
Historical Crime
Historical Tall Tales
Historical Science
Fiction
Historical Romance(Bennet)
A Brief History of Historical Fiction
First Settlers of Virginia, An Historical Novel, by John Davis, 1804
Waverly, Sir Walter Scott, 1814
(Byrd, 2007)
Quotes that encompass Historical Fiction…
“Historical Fiction invites us all to think about the past as yesterday continues to impinge upon today,” (Bennet).
“One key to the future may lie in the past,” (Ames, 2004).
“They bring the past to life,” (Byrd, 2007).“… are provided with more than a
knowledge of history; they are introduced to the understanding of history,” (Nawrot, 1996).
History vs. Historical Fiction
History Historical Fiction Often communicated through the textbook format.
Often uses the novel format, but is also read in picture books, graphic novels, poetry, etc.
Reading history has been viewed traditionally as an efferent reading experience, (Nawrot,1996).
Reading historical fiction is viewed as being an aesthetic reading experience, (Nawrot, 1996).
“History tells…” “…historical fiction shows,” (Ames, 2004).
History is a ‘factual,’ ‘objective’ account of the past.
Historical fiction is more subjective and involves emotion and perspectives that have often gone untold.
Historical Fiction is relevant because…
• It promotes critical thinking (Nawrot, 1996).
• Provides understanding of other cultures, times, places, events.
• Encourages students to synthesize information.
• Offers a human element to history (Nawrot, 1996).
Using Historical Fiction in the Classroom
According to Nawrot, 1996 you can use historical fiction to get students to:
Create a family treeConstruct a timelineDraw a mapDebate an issueVisit a museumWrite a newspaper article, a diary entry,
a letter
Social Studies Curriculum Connections
Grade 4 – Medieval Times
Grade 5 – Early Civilizations Grade 5 - Aspects
of Citizenship and Government in Canada
Grade 6 – First Nations and European
Explorers
Grade 6 – Canada and its Link to the World
Other Curriculum Connections
Character Education
• Respect for Diversity
• Citizenship Development
Drama/Dance• Four corners• Cross the line• Conscience
alley
Things to consider…
Controversial issues
Student population
Bias
Mature subject
matter
Accuracy
Suggested ReadingsOranges in No Man’s Land, Elizabeth Laird
A young girl recounts her experiences living in Beirut during the Civil war.
Out of Bounds, Beverley NaidooShort stories that extend through the decades in South Africa pre and post apartheid.
White Lily, Ting-Xing YeDescribes life in small village in China, during the 1800’s and the plight of a young girl who is required to live with her feet bound, as was the custom for women at that time.
The Breadwinner, by Deborah EllisA harrowing tale of a young girl who’s cuts off her hair and poses as a boy so that she may feed and clothe her family, after her father is imprisoned in Afghanistan.
Suggested Readings ContinuedThe Birchbark House, Louise Erdrich
This is the story of a young First Nations girl and her family as they survive a brutal winter, the introduction of the white man to their culture and disease.
Dead Man’s Gold, Paul YeePaul Yee recreates what life was like for Chinese immigrants coming to Canada at the turn of the last century through Ghost stories.
Libertad, Alma FullertonWritten in poetry form, this tale follows Libertad and his brother as they travel to safety from Guatemala to the U.S. in search of their father.
Iqbal, Francesco D’AdamoBased on Iqbal Masih, this story is written from the perspective of a young girl who works in the bonded labour system in Pakistan.
Suggested Readings Continued
Tales from Gold Mountain, Paul Yee
Last Days of Africville, Dorothy Perkins
Elijah of Buxton, Christopher Paul Curtis
Burn my Heart, Beverley Naidoo
Extensions- Our Community Reads
Our Community Reads
Our Community Reads
Works Cited
Alma, Fullerton. Libertad. Markham, ON: Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 2008.
Ames, John Edward. "Historical Fiction." Writer 117 (2004): 34-37.
Byrd, Max. "The Brief History of the Historical Novel." Wilson Quarterly 31 (2007): 25-31.
Character Development in Action, K-12. Toronto: Ontario Ministry of Education, 2008.
Curtis, Christopher Paul. Elijah of Buxton. New York, NY: Scholastic P, 2007.
D'Adamo, Francesco. Iqbal. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2001.
Elizabeth, Laird. Oranges in No Man's Land. London, ENG: MacMillan's Children's Book, 2006.
Erdrich, Louise. The Birchbark House. New York, NY: Hyperion Books for Children, 1999.
"Historical Fiction Genre Definition." Ed. Steve Bennet. Memmott, Carol. "Historical settings, fictional characters, winning combination." USA Today 12 Sept. 2006, Life sec.: 4.
Naidoo, Beverley. Burn my Heart. New York, NY: Harper Collins, 2007.
Naidoo, Beverley. Out of Bounds: Seven Stories of Conflict and Hope. London, ENG: Puffin Books, 2001.
Nawrot, Kathy. "Making connections with historical fiction." Clearing House 69 (1996): 343-47.
Ontario Curriculum: Social Studies, Grades 1-6. Toronto: Ontario Ministry of Education, 2004.
Ontario Curriculum: The Arts, Grades 1-8. Toronto: Ontario Ministry of Education,2009.
Perkins, Dorothy. Last Days in Africville. Halifax, NS: Sandcastle, 2003.
Ye, Ting-Xing. White Lily. Toronto, ON: Seal Books, 2000.
Yee, Paul. Dead Man's Gold. Toronto, On: Groundwood Books, 2002.
Yee, Paul. Tales from Gold Mountain: Stories of the Chinese in the New World. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books, 1989.