Sarah K. Herz
Before discussing or writing about an assigned historical novel, it is important for teacher and students to consider some guidelines to evaluate the novel’s historical accuracy. The guidelines for analyzing data can be divided into four main categores: setting, character, plot, and theme. Here are some suggested questions for analyzing historical fiction. Recall that our definition is that “historical novels are about past public events and people and social conditions and are based on historical facts. The historical novelist does not distort historical data for the sake of literary form.”
I. Setting (time and place)
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a. Has the author accurately described a particular historical period in the novel? Explain.
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b. List some details that describe the historical period and parallel your study of this particular historical period, e.g. geography, transportation, costume or dress, rural, urban, religious mores, social attitudes.
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c. Are the details of locale authentic in the novel?
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d. Does the description of the locale fit the historical period? Support with specific details.
II. Characters
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a. Are there real historical figures whose names you recognize? List them.
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b. Do the historical figures belong in the period described?
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c. Does a check against the history textbook or biographical materials show that the historical characters are accurately portrayed?
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d. Are fictional characters in keeping with the historical setting?
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e. List positive and negative character traits of at least four main real or fictional characters. Show parts of the novel that support this trait.
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f. Explain the characters’ involvement in the historical setting and events.
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g. How are the historical characters important to the action of the novel?
III. Plot (story line)
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a. Does the plot focus on a specific historical incident? Explain.
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b. Do the historical characters in the novel participate in a well known historical incident? Explain.
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c. Is the conflict real or fictional?
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d. Do the characters dramatize an eventful moment in the history of Connecticut, or some other familiar place.
IV. Theme
By theme we mean the author’s use of people and events from the past to elucidate some truth about a past era.
V. Summary
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a. Why do you think the author chose to write about this particular historical episode?
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b. Is the author revealing any new insights about the historical characters or historical events?
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c. Why is this considered a historical novel?
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d. Is this novel a good or bad historical novel, based on the previous definition of historical fiction?
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a. What social condition in history does the novel reveal?
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b. What comment do you think the author is making about this social condition?
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c. How can this social condition be related to contemporary life?
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d. How do the characters reveal the theme?
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e. Does this novel reflect more than one theme?
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f. Is there more than one point of view about the theme(s)?
