Historical Fiction

LIS 510

Definition

Realistic Fiction set in a time remote enough from the present to be considered history.

Written in a time period in which the author has not lived or

no more recently than one generation before its composition or

20 years ago

Historical Fiction Characteristics

Historical facts blend with imaginary characters & plot

Facts are Actual historical events

Authentic period settings

Real historical figures

Forms of Historical FictionMost Common:

Main characters of the story are imaginarySecondary characters may be actual historical figuresActual historical events are imbedded

2nd Type: Past described complete with social traditions, customs, morals, & values of the period No mention of actual historical events nor actual historical figures as characters

3rd Type: Historical FantasyHistorical story containing elements of fantasy

Time warpsSupernatural features/ghosts

1935

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1960s

1950s

Civil War

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Evaluation of Historical FictionAuthor MUST present historical facts with as much accuracy & objectivity as history books Language & Dialect

Language may be differentModified to be understandable to the child

Benefit by integrating into the social studies curriculum.Some authors attempt to include a more modern interpretation of historical events by

setting an earlier account straight/Birchbark House/ErdichBlack Cowboys, Wild Horses/Lester

Adding a minority presence to the story

SCOTT O’DELL AWARDSince 1982

Honors most outstanding work of children’s historical fiction in the past year

U.S. Citizen

Set in the New World

Award of $5,000.0

2008 Christopher’s

Elijah of Buxton

MAIN THEMES OF HISTORICAL FICTION

Seeking New FrontiersLittle House on the Prairie/WilderSign of the Beaver/Speare

Search For Freedom From PersecutionCrispin; the cross of lead/Avi

Effects of WarBat6/WolffPatrol; an American Soldier in Viet Nam/Myers

Family Closeness in Times of AdversityRuthie’s Gift/BradleyOut of the Dust/Hesse