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Thursday, September 6, 2012

HISTORY and STORY . . . Forever Together!


Hello! Ellen, here. So glad you stopped by to share my blog post with me. I hope you enjoy it!  

I’ve not always been a Monkey author. In fact, I never intended to become a writer. I’m an Anthropologist/Archaeologist who became a Middle Grade History/English teacher, who discovered writing by way of wanting to tell a story. While teaching Ancient Rome, I became so fascinated with their history that I decided to write an upper- middle grade adventure novel, The General’s Son.    
 

To me, story and history go together.  Story is part of the word History, and within the time frame of history, there are bazillions of ideas to write about. Warfare, witchcraft, jealous love affairs, sad love affairs, weird customs and beliefs, notorious and bloody deeds, deceit, camaraderie . . . you name it and somewhere in history, you’ll find that story.


For example, when I read the book Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, I immediately thought of the Greek hero, Theseus, and how kids from his city-state, Athens, were chosen to fight the Minotaur. I also thought of the Roman gladiatorial games, where contestants fought to the death.  In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus journeys to the Underworld in search of his mother’s spirit. During Victorian times, paranormal was the rage, with séances, vampire stories, and ghostly encounters. Today we have the Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer. The adventure and fantasy stories we enjoy, come to us in part because of heroic figures like King Arthur, and epic poems like Beowulf and The Nibelungenlied.    

Historical Fiction.
Unfortunately for history and story, Historical Fiction is not the most popular genre among kids. But when a history teacher introduces their students to great literature that can be used to teach history through story, that changes. For example, The American Revolution is more real if My Brother Sam is Dead, by Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier is read. And The Golden Goblet, by Eloise Jarvis McGraw, is perfect for Ancient Egypt. Good stories make good history and the kids love it.

In her guest blog, (here) Laurie Halse Anderson, author of Chains, Forge, and Fever 1793, all Historical Fiction novels, says, 

“For historical fiction to connect with readers, it must be thrilling fiction of the highest quality. If the story is a great story, the history will be consumed and remembered with no allergic reactions at all.”

*If the story is a great story* . . . that’s it right there.
  
Writing Historical Fiction can be time consuming. Facts used must be true to history, and presenting them in a story can be tricky. A story cluttered with too many historical facts can be devastating . . . and boring. The novel needs to breathe. Words and sentences must flow and not be tangled in dense language. Without an exciting plot and a likeable protagonist that overcomes all odds, your historical novel will gasp and sputter and die.

Historical Fiction only works when the author seizes the past and brings it alive for the reader. Stories help us make sense of the world. A great story can also help a child make sense of the past.     




So the next time you want to tell a great story, consider breathing life back into my friend, History. Check out some mythology, thumb through any History book, or wander the halls of a museum or the aisles of a book store. Stop by your local historical society and read some old newspapers or letters. Surf the internet. Question an aged relative about the past.

I promise you won’t be disappointed! Now, I would like to hear from you . . .

Do you have a favorite Historical Fiction novel? Or, while reading a novel in another genre, did any “History” come to mind?

17 comments:

  1. I'm a convert (and an anthropologist). I have always read historical fiction. I have just borrowed CHAINS from the library, actually. As librarian I came across a fantastic mystery series set in and around ancient Rome, by a British author, Caroline Lawrence. I ordered the first one because I liked the title, THIEVES OF OSTIA, as I had spent my summer in Ostia learning Italian. I loved the book and invited the author to visit the school and she was a resounding hit.

    Thanks for your enthusiastic post, Ellen.

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    1. Chains and Forge are excellent books. I really enjoyed them. I'm anxious to hear about Thieves of Ostia when you come and visit. Lots to talk about!

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  2. I was just talking to another teacher who bemoaned that fact that there is so little time in Social Studies classes to tell the stories in history. Stories are what draw us in, what make us think about different times. Great post, Ellen!

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    1. I understand her frustrations. I found as a history/English teacher, a Core situation where you had double periods was the way to go. There's so much "teaching to the test" that those stories become lost.

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  3. I love historical fiction, and my passion is to hook 'em young with picture books like "When Jessie Came Across the Sea" or "Mrs. Harkness and the Panda."

    - Cathy

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    1. I agree! Even my 7th/8th graders loved the Historical Fiction picture books. I had them lined up on the chalk tray in the front of the classroom.

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  4. Some of my favorite books are historical fiction! Marion Zimmer Bradley is a special favorite. Nice write up, Ellen!

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    1. Thank you, Amy. I've always wanted to read Priestess of Avalon. Roman England fascinates me, and this book is also about Constantine the Great. Calls for a trip to the book store, or Amazon!

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  5. Great post, Ellen! I love your passion for historical fiction and keeping it alive. I've devoured historical novels that my kids were assigned for reading--Witch of Blackbird Pond, Down the Long Hills, A Wrinkle in Time, The Last Sin Eater, Chains, to name only a few.

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  6. Thank you, Marilyn. Historical Fiction has always been my weakness. Well, history in general. I'm one of those weirdos that enjoys reading history books! :)

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  7. You do such a great job making history alive and exciting in your stories, Ellen--it was easy to see your passion for it! I'm going to be on the lookout for stories in history even more now...

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    1. Thanks, Julie. There are so many stories in History out there. I'm sure you'll truly enjoy the ones you find!

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  8. Great post! I think history is very inspiring too. While reading "How to Train Your Dragon" I was reminded of a trip to the Natural History Museum where I saw a display of Viking items. There was one item I will never forget. It was a long wooden stick with a scoop on the end. Apparently, it was used for scooping out ear wax! I suppose they could tell from the residue. Tell me that doesn't get your imagination soaring? I think Cressida Cowell does such a good job of plunging readers into the world of Vikings, and making them think what it must have been like to live in that world. And my goodness, what if you were the quiet, gentle, thinking sort?

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  9. Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it! I've not read "How to Train Your Dragon" although it's on my "to do" list for reading. I don't think there were many quiet types among the men in the Viking Age,although that would make for an interesting protagonist in a book!

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  10. I'm definitely a history nerd! The hard part for me is deciding which period to write about! So many possibilities...

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  11. I feel the same way. I'm always seeing something from any period and thinking that would make a cool story. I need more of me to get more writing done!

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  12. “…but when a history teacher introduces their students to great literature that can be used to teach history through story, that changes.”-- I believe this is true, because when I was still studying, I noticed that this strategy really worked for students who weren’t into history. They started to pay attention all of a sudden. Haha! I think you just have to find a way to make things more interesting for you. :)

    Neil Poirer

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