BHUM 12A06 - Heroes of the Silk Road: A Journey Through Historical Fiction

In this seminar, we will focus on key historical figures of the Silk Road to learn about historical literary fiction and study the craft of this specific genre of writing. By observing how Alexander the Great, Marco Polo or Genghis Khan—to name only a few—were pictured, represented and reinterpreted in fiction pieces from various eras, we will explore the links between facts and fiction, and question the role that literature played in forging the legend of these heroes. We will not only perform a critical analysis of these literary excerpts but also consider their authors' creative choices and strategies; you'll therefore learn to identify the main craft elements of fiction so that you can apply them to your own writing— for example, how can you subtly introduce the reader to the rules of the kingdom of Macedon? When are there too many or not enough details about Attila's horses or tent-makers in 11th century Persia? What do these long-gone characters have in common with us and why are their stories relevant today? In this course, you will have the opportunity to explore and reinvent the main figures of the Silk Road, as well as experiment with the genre of historical fiction, by completing short writing exercises and developing your own historical short story—a short story which will be shared with the class, and revised using your peers' feedback. You will also learn about the specificities of conducting research when drafting a creative writing piece—a task that requires a keen eye for detail as well as an accute understanding, both at the macro and micro levels, of the contemporary issues at stake. As a community, we will undertake a journey along the Silk Road and meet some of its greatest actors; on the way, we'll work toward becoming better readers, critics, and writers of historical short fiction.

Julia MALYE

Séminaire

English

Calendar : Choice for the topic of your short story : last class before spring break – February. First draft of your historical short story (4 to 6 double-spaced pages) : mid-March Workshop and reviewing: Late March & one-on-one meeting for revision plan (early April) Deadline: Early May—Please note that this deadline is specific to this seminar and that no late assignments will be accepted. Requirements: all final drafts should be mailed via Urkund and a printed version given to the professor in charge of the seminar. Workshop Procedures: Your story is your baby. Act accordingly: Give it a thoughtful name. Start the nurturing process early (begin writing at least 2 weeks before your deadline). Tend to its needs – even in the middle of the night or early in the morning. Make sure it is delivered on the correct due date. (If handed in late, you will receive a 0/20 on your engagement grade.) Show up to see its big day (workshop). (Failure to do so will also result in a 0/20 on your engagement grade.) Take pride in its strengths, even when working constantly towards improvement. Formatting Guidelines Stories must be printed in black ink, double-spaced, with standard margins. The font should be Times New Roman or Garamond, 12 point. Pages should be numbered. Workshop letters can be single spaces, but must be printed. Everything must be stapled.

Spring 2024-2025

To validate the course, the student is expected to pass the following assignments: 1°) Oral Presentation & Research Project. You will be choosing a historical figure or a topic connected to the Silk Road and will conduct research on this theme. You will do a 10-minute in-class oral presentation, describing both your findings as well as your research and writing processes. 2°) Engagement. This grade takes into account your participation in individual, small group, and large group discussions, as well as your overall engagement with the course materials (writing prompts, in-class exercises, workshop, workshop letters, etc). 3°) Historical Short Story – First Draft – 4 to 5 double-spaced pages. On top of responding to writing prompts, you will produce a full-length historical short story that will explore a main figure of the Silk Road. In order to write this first draft, you'll use the information you unraveled as you conducted research for your oral presentation. During the second semester, this first draft will be shared with your peers and discussed in workshop. FINAL/RESOURCE PAPER: Historical Short Story – Polished Draft. For your final project in this class, you will be expected to use the feedback you received to revise and polish the first draft of your historical short story. This final project will be supervised and assessed in seminar but the grade will be included in the lecture grade along with the two written exams. 8 to 12 double-spaced pages - font 12 - Times New Roman or Arial - spacing 2.

At the end of the course, the student is expected to : 1°) Understand the key craft elements and components of a specific fiction genre, historical fiction, through the lens of Silk Road main historical figures. 2°) Demonstrate an understanding of theoretical material and literary art through verbal and written analysis, and how to translate this understanding into one's own creative work habits and strategies. 3°) Apply multiple theories, concepts, and techniques for creating and evaluating written communication. 4°) Write effectively for diverse audiences within a specific area or discipline using appropriate standards and conventions. 5°) Apply critical thinking to writing process, including revision, and to literary excerpts from various eras and countries. 6°) Strenghten oral presentation skills and learn about research strategies specific to historical fiction writing.