Introduction
This webquest will guide you on a journey through historical fiction, beginning with identifying the main characteristics and culminating in writing an original historical fiction story.
You are an aspiring writer who has just moved to a calm town in order to find inspiration to write your first novel.
The literary agent that you so desperately want to sign with has just told you that historical fiction is growing in popularity, and that in order to sign with her you must be skilled in that genre.
You know next to nothing about historical fiction, but signing with this agent could mean multi-million dollar book deals, so you are willing to learn all about it and prove to her that you can deliver an engaging, well-written historical fiction story.
Task
Task
Now that you know the scenario, let's talk about what you're actually going to do.
First, this WebQuest will give you a brief review of the basic characteristics of historical fiction. Your job will be to identify those characteristics in the examples of writing provided for you.
Next, you will choose a historical time period that is interesting to you and will research some basic information about it via the sources listed.
Finally, you will get a chance to write your own historical fiction story, keeping in mind the basic traits of the genre as well as your research of the time period.
Process
Process
Phase One: What is historical fiction, and what is its purpose?
Phase Two: Review
These are the 5 main characteristics of historical fiction:
Theme: A literary theme is the main idea or underlying meaning a writer explores in a novel, short story, or other literary work. The theme of a story can be conveyed using characters, setting, dialogue, plot, or a combination of all of these elements.
Setting: Takes place in a real location in a definite period of time in history. There are vivid descriptions of the setting, and any historical information that may be unfamiliar to the reader will be explained.
Characters: All of the characters in the story behave realistically. Words spoken by the characters reflect the knowledge and thoughts of people during that time period.
Conflict: There is a conflict that may be real for that time period.
Plot: The story makes sense and has a solution to the problem at the end. It is a mixture of real and fictional events.
As you read the following excerpts from historical fiction novels, think about how the author utilizes these 4 characteristics. Remember, very soon you will be using them in your own writing!
#1 Excerpt from Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
"On rocky islands gulls woke. Time to be about their business. Silently they rooted in on the town, but when their icy eyes sighted the first dead fish, and bits of garbage about the ships and wharves they began to scream and quarrel.
The cocks in Boston back yards bad long before cried the coming of day. Now the hens were also awake, scratching, clucking, laying eggs.
Cats in malt houses, granaries, ship holds, mansions and hovels caught a last mouse, settled down to wash their for and deep. Cats did not work by day.
In stables, horses shook their halters and whinnied.
In barns, cows lowed to be milked." ~Forbes
Which of the following characteristics of historical fiction are evident in this excerpt?
A the characters and dialogue are relevant to the time period
B the plot is authentic to the time period.
C the setting is descriptive and authentic to the time period.
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#2 Excerpt from Dear America: I Walk in Dread: The Diary of
Deliverance Trembly, Witness to the Salem Witch Trials
by Lisa Rae Faustino
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"Tuesday the 1st of March, 1692 The four afflicted girls…were brought in to the front of the room, screeching and crying out as they laid their eyes on the prisoner. Their fear flooded the room… When it was quiet again, Mr. Hawthorne asked them to look upon Sarah Goode, and see if she were the person that hurt them. They all said yes, yes!… Sarah Goode looked shocked and confused. She denied that she had…even been near the children. At that, Abigail Williams and Ann Putnam twisted and cried out that the witch was pinching and biting them… It was terrifying to witness, and I felt a hot passion against Sarah Goode. Someone behind me muttered, 'The woman should hang for this.'" ~Faustino |
Which of the following characteristics of historical fiction are evident in this excerpt?
A the characters and dialogue are relevant to the time period
B the plot is authentic to the time period.
C the setting is descriptive and authentic to the time period.
____________________________________________________________
#3 Excerpt from Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper
"It was a feature peculiar to the colonial wars of North America, that the toils and dangers of the wilderness were to be encountered, before the adverse hosts could meet. A wide, and, apparently, an impervious boundary of forests, severed the possessions of the hostile provinces of France and England. The hardy colonist, and the trained European who fought at his side, frequently expended months in struggling against the rapids of the streams, or in effecting the rugged passes of the mountains, in quest of an opportunity to exhibit their courage in a more martial conflict. But, emulating the patience and self-denial of the practised native warriors, they learned to overcome every difficulty; and it would seem, that in time, there was no recess of the woods so dark, nor any secret place so lovely, that it might claim exemption from the inroads of those who had pledged their blood to satiate their vengeance, or to uphold the cold and selfish policy of the distant monarchs of Europe." ~Cooper
Which of the following characteristics of historical fiction are
evident in this excerpt?
A the characters and dialogue are relevant to the time period
B the plot is authentic to the time period.
C the setting is descriptive and authentic to the time period
Phase Three: Research
Now that you are able to identify the main characteristics of historical fiction, it is time to choose a time period to write about. Be sure to choose a period that is interesting to you, because you will be spending a lot of time researching and writing about it! If you really want to impress that editor, you'd better make this an incredible story! Below is a list of options with corresponding links to get you started in your research.
1940s, WWII
http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1940s.html
http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/decade40.html
1920s, USA
http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1920s.html
http://1920sgirls.tripod.com/popculture.html
Medieval Times
http://www.suelebeau.com/medievaltimes.htm
Ancient Rome
https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-rome/ancient-rome
https://www.britannica.com/place/ancient-Rome
French Revolution
https://www.britannica.com/event/French-Revolution
https://www.history.com/topics/france/french-revolution
Be sure to find information about events that were happening during that time, as well as food, clothing, music, etc. All of those details will lend authenticity and believability to your story.
Phase Four: Write
Now that you have identied the main characteristics of historical fiction in excerpts from other stories, it is your turn to apply them into your own writing! Here are the requirements for your historical fiction story:
1. The story must be accurate and authentic to the time period. It must focus around an actual event in history, and be sure to add plenty of details to make it realistic to that time.
2. The story must be creative and original. It should be engaging to the reader and have a clear conflict and plot.
3. The story must include at least 2 characters. The thoughts and dialogue of the characters must be relevant to the events of that time period and should have period appropriate language.
4. The story must be turned-in in a final copy form. It should be typed in a non-cursive, size 12-14 font, and double-spaced.
5. The story must include a correctly formatted bibliography with at least 2 sources. Use this link to help refresh your memory on MLA citation! https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_style_introduction.html
Evaluation
This is how your work will be evaluated.
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WOW!! 5 |
So close! 4 |
Almost there... 3 |
Not yet. 0-2 |
Score |
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Style/Genre
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The story is well-written, engaging, and includes the correct characteristics for historical fiction.. | The story is well-written, engaging, and includes most of the characterisitics for historical fiction. | The story is fairly well-written and engaging, and includes some of the characterisitics for historical fiction. . | The story is not particularly well-written or engaging, nor does it include the characteristics for historical fiction. | |
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Authenticity (Research) |
The story is authentic to the chosen time period and includes many details to make it believable. | The story is authentic to the chosen time period and includes some details to make it believable.. | The story is somewhat authentic to the chosen time period and includes adequate details to make it believable. | The story is not very authentic to the chosen time period, nor does it include enough details to make it believable.. | |
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Grammar Spelling Mechanics Structure Word Choice |
The story is virtually free of any errors.. | There are a few errors, but they don't interfere with the understanding of the story.. | There are several errors in the story, at times making it difficult to understand. | There are many errors in the story, interfering with the reading of the story.. | |
| Manuscript | . The story is presented in a clean, typed, final-copy form. | . | The story is not typed or presented in a final-copy form. | ||
| Bibliography | The bibliography has at least 2 sources and is correctly puctuated and formatted.. | .The bibliography has at least 2 sources, but is not correctly punctuated or formatted. | The bibliography only has one source, but it is corretly puctuated and formatted.. | The bibliography has only one source, and it is not correctly formatted. OR there is no bibliography. |
Conclusion
Conclusion
Throughout this WebQuest, you have learned just about all there is to know about historical fiction. You can now identify the main characteristics of the genre, as well as incorporate them into your own writing. Hopefully your story proves what you can do and you knock the socks off of that big-time editor!
Credits
Based on the WebQuest Identifying and Creating Historical Fiction http://questgarden.com/104/72/1/100609062700/index.htm
Videos:
Historical Fiction
The Elements of Fiction
Teacher Page
This webquest will guide students on a journey through historical fiction, beginning with identifying the main characteristics and culminating in writing an original historical fiction story.
Teacher Introduction
This WebQuest is a complete guide on the principles of historical fiction. It is geared towards 7th grade students and matches up with the Grade Level Content Expectations in the historical fiction genre.
Teacher Process
Phase One: What is historical fiction and its purpose?
In this phase, students will learn about the genre historical fiction and its purpose. They will watch a video and take notes of the most important information.
Phase Two: Review
This phase of the WebQuest is made to review the main components of historical fiction with students. The first part describes the five main characteristics in the genre, and then gives excerpts from three different historical fiction novels. After each excerpt, students are asked what trait is most evident in the writing. This encourages higher order thinking skills for the student and also helps them see how the main characteristics of historical fiction fit into the story.
Phase Three: Research
In this phase, students will be researching their chosen time period. The time periods to choose from for this project have been limited to those that have been the most popular in the past. The links provided for students to use have been checked out and provide adequate information about each time period. This assignment requires general knowledge of the time period; students should be encouraged to include things like fashion, food, music, anything that indicates what the lifestyle was like during that time.
Phase Four: Write
In this phase, students are given directions for writing their historical fiction stories. The stories must be creative, original, and authentic to the chosen time period. There is also a requirement for bibliography. At the time of this assignment, students should be familiar with the proper format for an MLA works cited page. There is a link provided to help students through the process as necessary.