QUESTION 5. Do creative histories, particularly historical novels or films, offer us greater insight into the past than non-fictional histories, or do we read each for different reasons? Discuss with close reference to at least one creative history.
Explanation
‘Creative history’ refers to works that include a fictionalised element, so documentaries (even those that have creative devices such as re-enactments) do not count.
‘Close reference’ in the essay question means you must have read or seen the work or works discussed, and refer to them in detail. If it is clear that you are just relying on what others have said about the work, your essay will not get more than a low pass and may fail.
Approach
The best way to answer this question is also to discuss non-fiction history – either a work of history, or a body of historical knowledge about a topic or era. For instance, if you were writing about The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (either novel or film) you would discuss that in relation to non-fictional history of the Holocaust.
Some points to help you think about how to frame your answer:
• How closely does the work stick to known historical fact?
• Does the work offer insights into the historical event or time that a non-fiction work cannot do, and if so, how does it do that?
• If there is both a novel and a film, such as The Thin Blue Line or All Quiet on the Western Front, you could also compare the two creative works with non-fictional history events