Historical Source Lesson: Literature
| ALL GRADES
For the Educator: Use this historical source lesson with the sample analysis page (as a handout or overhead) to illustrate where to find and how to use literature. Download full-page sample analysis Image as pdf |
Relevant Standards: When presented with the interpretive lessons and projects herein, this lesson meets Michigan Content and Benchmark Standards for Literacy: V4: Culture and Common Heritage
What is literature?
Literature is creative writing from the past that can show how people lived, thought and communicated. Liberty Hyde Bailey and Thomas J. Millar wrote poetry about fruit growing and fruit blossoms. We found a children’s book by Genevieve Cross about the Fruit Belt train. We can use fictional literature like this to understand how people viewed the fruit industry in the past. Non-fictional literature can help locate important events and dates, or help us interpret other sources.
Where can you find it?
We found most of our literary sources in public libraries. Yet the Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum (South Haven) and the Van Buren County Historical Society also offered useful literary sources. We also received generous gifts from private collectors who owned important literatures related to the Fruit Belt.
How do you interpret it?
Analyzing literature can be challenging for unfamiliar readers. These steps can help you to begin to interpret the literature you find.
After reading the source, think about the author, the subject, and the writing style. Who is the author and when was it written? Find information about the author and their life. How might the events of this person’s life have affected the composition? What is the subject of the work? Whose perspective is the story written from? What does the author suggest about the subject? Is the work persuasive, emotive, or documentary? Think about the writing style. Does the author use symbolism, narrative, or metaphors?
Think about the answers to these questions. Do you think the author had a purpose in mind when writing this book? Is it meant to persuade, criticize, or praise something or someone? What can you learn about the past by reading this book? How does it help you understand past peoples and their thoughts/feelings?
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