Using Novels to Teach History

Using Historical Novels in High School History Curriculums

Oct 15, 2008

The words "Why do we need to know this?" are often heard in the classroom. Historical novels are one way to get high school students engaged in learning about the past.

Students often have a difficult time connecting the past to the present. If a teacher cannot even get the events of the past across to the students, the connection with the present is impossible. One way to engage young adults is to have them read works of historical fiction.

These stories, built around the actual events of history, often have fictional elements that move the plot along in a way that is interesting to teens as well as adults alike. Such books keep the students engaged, thereby causing them to research what the difference is between fact and fiction in the story. The following are a few recommendations to use at the high school level

The Feast of All Saints – by Anne Rice

The Feast of all Saints by Anne Rice [Ballantine Books, 1986] explores the place in society of the free people of children born to free African-American mothers and white fathers. Though not slaves but not fully white, these people were not fully accepted into white society because of their "mixed" heritage. Women were often taken to Quadroon Balls where white men could come and meet women whom they would often take as lifelong mistresses.

Students can explore life in the south outside the "slave/non-slave" life as well as gain a more thorough understanding of the Creole influence of the south. Encourage students to explore the New York Public Library’s digital collection for documents and photos of specific members of this society.

Snow Falling on Cedars – by David Guterson

Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson [Vintage Books, 1995] is set in post World War II America. This book explores a murder trial of a German-American fisherman by an accused Japanese-American. Through flashback, the history of both families as well as the treatment of the Japanese-Americans in the Second World War is learned. What is part love story and part historical account forces students to explore the role of the US government during the Second World War as far as internment of Japanese Americans is concerned.

Encourage students to research at the FDR Memorial Library. Only an hour from NYC, a trip to Roosevelt's hometown makes a great field trip. For those living further away, there is ample material on the website. A comparison can also be made to the treatment of Jews in Germany during the Second World War.

The Other Boleyn Girl – by Philippa Gregory

Set in the illustrious court of King Henry VIII of England, readers of The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory [Touchstone, 2008] are given a glimpse into the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn as the Queen of England and Second of six wives of Henry VIII. At the expense of Catherine of Aragon, Anne’s sister Mary and brother George, Anne rises to the coveted position of Queen of England and falls within a matter of three years. Readers are taken through the tumultuous years of England’s history as the country breaks away from the Catholic powers of Rome and becomes a fully Protestant nation.

While there is some material added for entertainment only, students are eager to find what happens next while researching the lives of the central characters. Ample material can be found on the official webpage of the British Monarchy.

The Constant Princess – Philippa Gregory

Set in Spain and England, The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory [Touchstone, 2008] explores the making of Catherine of Aragon into the first wife of Henry VIII of England. Readers are taken from the years of the young Infanta of Spain to Catherine becoming the wife of Henry’s older brother Arthur and the future Queen of England. Readers are given a glimpse into the Inquisition of Spain and its ramifications in the world of Academia, as well as how the inability to produce a son led to the fall of Catherine of Aragon as the Queen of England. Material on Catherine of Aragon can also be found on the British Monarchy’s official page.

While it can be difficult to engage students in events of the past, historical novels are a great way to get young adults interested. Because of the fictional elements used to move the plot along, students feel more like they are reading a story and less like they are being lectured on the past.

The copyright of the article Using Novels to Teach History in High School is owned by Lisa Cucciniello. Permission to republish Using Novels to Teach History in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.