It is interesting to see how different people find meaning in a question like this. My interpretation of the question is a bit more literary, I guess, because what comes to my mind is connected to the kinds of historical events that can led a positive tone to a work of literature.
There are many works of literature that contain authentic historical details, and these can, of course, make a work more positive or negative. Imagine, for example, a novel that begins with the final spike driven in the transcontinental railroad. Such an event would lend great optimism to any novel. Similarly, a novel that included the tumbling of the Berlin Wall would be driven in a positive way by that event. The end of World War II would be another example of an event that would make a story more positive. A more recent event, the election of President Obama, would certainly make a story about race relations in the United States more positive.
On the other hand, there are plenty of negative historical events for an author to use in a story. Some examples are the Holocaust, the attack of 9/11, the Cold War, or the Depression.
Generally, when an author includes historical details in a work of fiction, he or she is certainly aware that such events help to set the tone for a story, just as the setting of a story helps to set the tone. One good example of a story with rich historical details is Ragtime, by E. L. Doctorow.
I hope someone is able to provide an answer that is of use to you. Good luck!
No comments:
Post a Comment