Elements of Historical Fiction

Historical Fiction

Genre Study

Anne Frank

Review: What is a genre?

Genre is a way to categorize books or literature.

Genres are types of literature.

Realistic
Fiction

Historical
Fiction

Mystery

Nonfiction
Biography

Fantasy

Science
Fiction

Drag and Drop

A genre is a ​ way to

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books. Genres are ​

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of literature.

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categorize

types

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of a literary genre?

• Book

• Movie

• Historical Fiction

• Advertisement

What is Historical Fiction?

A fictional story that takes place in a
particular time period of the past.

★ Typically at least 30 years in the past

Oftentimes the setting is real, but the
characters are fictional.

Multiple Choice

What is historical fiction?

• A type of fiction consisting of real characters AND real settings.

• A type of fiction that takes place at in a particular time period of the past.

• A type of fiction that takes place in outer space.

• A type of fiction that has talking animals in a faraway land.

3 Elements of Historical Fiction

★ Setting: Real or Imaginary

○

Authentic

○

Accurate

★ Character: Real or Imaginary

○

Real-life historical figures -or- imaginary portrayed in a
realistic manner

○

Descriptions, words, & actions match the setting

★ Plot

○

Centered around a documented historical event -OR-

○

Imaginary storyline reflecting the time period

Multiple Choice

In historical fiction the setting can be real or imaginary; however, it must be accurate.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Historical Fiction must have characters that were REAL historical figures.

• True

• False

Drag and Drop

The plot can be centered around a documented ​

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event, or an ​

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storyline reflecting a past ​

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period.

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historical

imaginary

time

Most Important Element: SETTING

★ Authors must RESEARCH
★ Authors reconstruct the PAST
★ Details must be AUTHENTIC

○ Food
○ Clothing
○ Housing
○ Technology

Multiple Choice

The most important element of a historical fiction plot is

• characters

• conflict

• setting

• resolution

5 Pitfalls

★ Poor research
★ Too much history in the text
★ Dialogue or voice sounds phony
★ Setting isn’t specific enough to show where the

story took place

★ Today’s world creeps into the story

Multiple Choice

Historical fiction is easy to write because it doesn't require any planning.

• True

• False