Writing Historical Fiction

Which of the following would best qualify for classification as “historical fiction?”

• a description of the process used by ancient Egyptians to mummify the dead
• an account of the current President of the United States reacting to the 1945 nuclear bombing of two Japanese cities
• Michelangelo’s description of the human body, accompanied by sketches
• a story about a slave on the plantation of Thomas Jefferson

How has the style of historical fiction changed over time?

• Early works authors used lively language and embellishment now authors are more factual
• Contemporary authors capture the flavor of the time period while sticking to factual accuracy
• Authors in the past only used language from the time period and contemporary authors rarely do that
• There is almost no change in style over time

Who do the authors credit with the writing of the first work of historical fiction?

• Lady Patricia Keff
• Carlo Notar Tomaso
• Sir Walter Scott
• William Spencer

Which of the following best describes the style of today’s historical fiction for children?

• The language is accessible to children
• Passages tend to be long and factual.
• Descriptions are ornate.
• Sentence structure tends to be more complex.

Which of the following best describes the perspective from which stories are told in today’s historical fiction?

• Idealized views of the past are assumed.
• The past is viewed to reveal adversity accurately
• Protagonists perceive their circumstances with infallible judgment.
• Individual character perceptions are replaced with broad generalizations using third-person narration.

The authors report which of the following as an advantage of picture books containing historical fiction?

• Picture books provide access for children who can’t read.
• The need to construct meaning is minimized through the use of picture books.
• Picture books counter the shock of graphic narration.
• Hard-to-imagine settings are brought to life.

Which of the following best characterizes the subject matter of today’s historical fiction for children?

• It centers on the lives of major historical characters.
• It pursues the American “melting pot” ideal.
• Children are protected from the less savory aspects of our past.
• Less well-known historical events are depicted.

What is the advantage of historical fiction series ?

• They are interesting to children and often provide strong female protagonists
• They keep children reading and entertained
• There are often ordinary historically accurate protagonists
• They are cheap to produce and the reading levels are low

Why is historical empathy important ?

• Teaches children how to think critically
• Gives teachers an opportunity to develop better comprehension questions
• Children learn to feel sorry for characters in the stories
• Historical empathy supports historical understanding

Which of the following is awarded exclusively for historical fiction?

• The Newbery Medal
• The Scott O’Dell Award
• The Hans Christian Andersen Award
• The Horn Book Award