looking back… historical fiction a genre study by: julie van huyse

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.