William Shakespeare And Tolstoy s War And Peace - 1762 Words

The historical fiction genre is more popular than ever, with masses of television programmes, motion pictures and novels being written around the subject. This influx has brought a new reception to the many time periods of history that had otherwise been forgotten and abandoned, and also to many that are heavily documented but rarely looked upon. However, with the need for a fascinating story to sell to the audiences some of the historical fact is being obscured in the process, thus causing a lack of respect between authors and historians. In this essay, I will be exploring the relationship to literature from both historians and authors, also examining their own beliefs on what defines a historical novel and whether or not these authors†¦show more content†¦Some pieces of literature even began to reflect in the modern day, with Miller’s The Crucible making a statement about the MccArthy Movement by using the historic witch trials of Salem. ‘It is clear indeed th at historical fiction has attained a new sense of urgency.It is far from being seen as mere entertainment, it is something more: a statement about our past and the way it influences our present, an effort to unravel something about the past that we have not yet been able to see, or, even, an opportunity to give us a different past and to grasp one’s identity in a completely different way.’ In this sense, historical fiction could be defined as ‘escapism’ more than ever. ---- Assuming that historical fiction and history are both intended to tell a reader facts, then one could argue that historical fiction is damaging to the world. However, when one changes the purpose of both genres then the whole concept of historical fiction changes, According to Andrew M Greeley, ‘the purpose of history is to narrate events as accurately as one can. The purpose of historical fiction is to enable a reader through the perspective of characters in the story to feel that he or she is present at the events.’ In this case, it is only fair that a ‘modification of the events’ is needed in order to reach that goal. Many historians turn to write historical fiction in orderShow MoreRelatedWhat Is Literature Writing?2296 Words   |  10 PagesThe term literary writing calls to mind works by writers such as Shakespeare, Milton, or Wordsworth; definitive examples of all that the term implies. We instinctively associate the term with characteristics such as artistic merit, creative genius, and the expression of mankinds noblest qualities. In this essay I will explore some of the characteristics of this kind of writing. Literary works are primarily distinguishable from other pieces of writing by their creative, or artistic intent. Read MoreLiterature Has The Power Of Literature3178 Words   |  13 Pagesshe was twenty-one, she published a collection of her poetry, first in England, then in America. She impressed everyone she met, proving to the world that the color of one s skin does not indicate one s intellect. At a time when African Americans were discouraged and intimidated from learning how to read and write, Wheatley s life was an anomaly. Frederick Douglass is the â€Å"face† for the â€Å"Literature Frees† movement –meaning everyone knows Douglass gained his freedom because of literature –butRead MoreLeadership Development Model Of Bass And Avolio9476 Words   |  38 Pageshistory as having turned on the decisions of heroes, giving detailed analysis of the influence of several such men (including Muhammad, Shakespeare, Luther, Rousseau, and Napoleon). Carlyle also felt that the study of great men was profitable to one s own heroic side; that by examining the lives led by such heroes, one could not help but uncover something about one s true nature (Carlyle, 1888). The theory is usually contrasted with a theory that talks about events occurring in the fullness of timeRead MoreCleanth Brookss Essay Irony as a Principle of Structure9125 Words   |  37 Pagesreason the author would like to take this opportunity to state unequivocally that in his view the experiences of the years of revoluti on have provided a magnificent confirmation of all the essential aspects of orthodox (i.e. Communist) Marxism. The war, the crisis and the Revolution, not excluding the so-called slower tempo in the development of the Revolution and the new economic policy of Soviet Russia have not thrown up a single problem that cannot be solved by the dialectical method — and by that