Historical Fiction: Imaginary Stories Based on Real Events

1. Monday, April 18, 2016 • Put away phones • Turn antagonist stories into basket • Read SSR

2. Tell her story. You have 10 minutes.

3. HISTORICAL FICTION

4. Historical Fiction Imaginary stories based on actual historical events, attempting to capture the spirit, manners, and social conditions of the persons or time(s) presented in the story.

5. 2 Types • Fictional Characters – made-up characters put into actual setting Ex: Forrest Gump, Pearl Harbor, Titanic • Alternate History – true up to a point, with an alternate ending Ex: What would have happened if Germandy won WWII?

6. Volunteers to share stories?

7. John Wehunt & Sarah Angeline “Sally Ann” Shitle • John Wehunt was married to Polly Hoyle, who later died. He then remarried Sarah Angeline Shitle, an adopted girl in the community, in 1842. John was 47 years old at the time; Sarah was 14! • My great grandfather, Cal, remembered Sarah well and liked her very much. • In 1844, one year before marrying Sarah, John Wehunt recorded the following possessions: 2-year old colt, 4 head of cattle, 1 rifle gun, 1 set of blacksmith tools, 1 clock, and household and kitchen furniture. In 1855, he added 7 head cattle, 25 head of hogs, 17 head of sheep, 1 sorel mule, 1 bay mule, and 2 horse wagons. • In 1879, he added a Cotton King stove and one still vessel (used for making whiskey!) Sarah Angeline Shitle Wehunt

8. Story about George Bess, as told by Cal Wehunt • Cal told my grandmother, Evelyn, that our ancestor George was a member of the KKK, though at the time, it was a “good organization,” because it punished people who abused their family and broke the law (those were my granny’s words… personally, I’m not too sure about that!). One afternoon, Uncle George was intoxicated after a KKK meeting, yet the law found them and chased them. Uncle George fell off his horse and told the law everything about the KKK – all the members, etc.! They all served time in jail (including Ocie’s father, Thomas Albert Lackey)… needless to say, they were pretty upset with George!

10. Picture Books • Picture books are often used to help kids understand history. Apples to Oregon By Deborah Hopkinson A pioneer father transports his beloved fruit trees and his family to Oregon in the mid-nineteenth century. Shipwrecked!: The True Adventures of a Japanese Boy by Rhoda Blumberg "The fascinating tale of Manjiro, the first Japanese person to live in the U.S."

11. A Big Cheese for the White House : The True Tale of a Tremendous Cheddar In 1801, villagers in Massachusetts create a gigantic cheddar cheese for President Jefferson.

12. Short Stories • American History – Judith Ortiz Cofer • The Sniper – Liam O’Flaherty • Marine Corpse Issue – David McLean

13. Novels • To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee • Night – Elie Wiesel

14. Harry Turtledove • The master of alternate history • Plots include the survival of the Byzantine Empire or an alien invasion in the middle of the Second World War and for giving a fresh and original treatment to themes previously dealt with by many others, such as the victory of the South in the American Civil War and of Nazi Germany in the Second World War.

15. Movies – based on real facts • Pearl Harbor • Titanic • Shakespeare in Love • Memoirs of a Geisha • 3000 BC

16. Creative Stories • Forrest Gump • Kid in King Arthur’s Court • Enchanted • I wanna hold your hand • Kate and Leopold

17. TV Shows

18. Historical Fiction in….. literature? Historical fiction • Forrest gump trailer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pI_IUibds8 • Transformers 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHRf01Gjosk • Year one - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTNBwIAY9Zo • Pearl harbor - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr6pVUv9cJQ • A Knight’s Tale - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH6U5y086hw • Kate & Leopold - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpSlJaP2sHw Alternate endings • CSA the confederate states of America – documentary about if the south would have won the civil war • Inglorious Basterds – if Americans would have killed Hitler

19. For our next creative writing project, we will need to complete a little research. We will spend a week looking into our family history. You may not be able to find ALL the information, but strive to complete the following: • Family Pedigree Chart (attached) – See if you can locate the names, birthdays/death dates, etc. of each family member until your great grandparents. You may certainly go further if you find that information! • Local History – Consider your hometown (where you grew up OR where you currently live, if different). Be prepared to share 20 interesting facts about this hometown. Consider early settlers (European?), early pioneers (specific people), county lines, who it is named after, its “claim to fame” (notable crops, businesses, productivity), battles, historical landmarks, culture, etc. • Family Artifact - Locate an important family artifact (photo, document, passport, wedding invitation, furniture piece, antique object, etc.). What is its significant to you/your family? • Oral History – interview the most elderly person in your family to find out about family adventures, places of residence, family tragedies, work experiences, migration stories, military service, and interesting tales about family members. A good way to begin the conversation is to ask what he/she thinks about today’s modern conveniences that weren’t around when he/she was young. • Alternate History/Historical You: Either change the course of history through a fictional tale, or place you in a historical event.