What Is a Genre of Literature? A genre is a category, or type. of literature that is generally broken down into fiction and nonfiction subcategories.
Fiction Versus Nonfiction Fictional stories are not real and involve characters and storylines that are created by the author.
What Is Historical Fiction? refers to a story that takes place in the past. Often the setting is real, but the characters are made up from the author’s imagination.
What Is Historical Fiction? Through novels and short stories, an author may combine factual information about time, place, events, and real people of the period with fictional characters, dialogue, and details.
Characteristics of Historical Fiction The author presents a well told story that doesn’t conflict with historical records. Portrays characters realistically Artfully folds in historical facts.
Examples of Historical Fiction Falsely accused of theft and murder, an orphaned peasant boy in fourteenth-century England flees his village and meets a larger-than-life juggler who holds a dangerous secret.
Examples of Historical Fiction In 1943, during the German occupation of Denmark, ten-year-old Annemarie learns how to be brave and courageous when she helps shelter her Jewish friend from the Nazis.
Example of Historical Fiction The ordinary interactions and everyday routines of the Watsons, an African- American family living in Flint, Michigan, are drastically changed after they go to visit Grandma in Alabama in the summer of 1963.
Test Your Knowledge A category or type of literature is called a ______?
Historical Fiction or Not? A story about a boy who can make himself invisible so that he can spy on people. True or false? A story about a pig who wears clothes and can talk to humans. True or false? A story about a slave named Isabel who spies for the rebels during the Revolutionary War. True or false?
Historical Fiction or Not? Fourteen-year-old Billie Jo relates the hardships of living on her family's wheat farm in Oklahoma during the dust bowl years of the Depression.
Historical Fiction Questions In a fictional story, a soldier decides to betray the British and join the Revolutionary War militia in Plymouth colony. Which genre best fits this story? A. Science Fiction B. Realistic Fiction C. Historical Fiction D. Mystery
Historical Fiction Questions Which plot is from the historical fiction genre? A. Citizens have just learned that a giant meteoroid has wiped out the Easter seaboard A princess has just escaped from an evil dragon’s castle. A boy escapes from German Nazis by wearing a disguise. A young boy finds his lost dog by placing an ad in the local newspaper.
Historical Fiction Questions Which event would occur in historical fiction? a. He built a fire to cook his meal. b. He heated his meal in an oven. c. He ordered dinner to be delivered. d. He microwaved his meal.
What Is Your Favorite Historical Fiction Book?