What are the differences between fantastic fiction and historical fiction?

Fantastic fiction often involves elements that are not part of the real world, like magic, mythical creatures, and supernatural powers. General fiction, on the other hand, is more likely to be set in the real world and deal with everyday human experiences. For example, a general fiction novel might be about a family's struggle in a big city. While a fantastic fiction could be about a wizard's adventure in a magical land.

Fantastic fiction can take readers to imaginary realms and engage them with extraordinary adventures. It's about creating a sense of wonder. In contrast, literary fiction is more concerned with the art of storytelling in a more realistic context. It may use more sophisticated language and delve deeper into the psyche of the characters. For instance, in literary fiction, the narrative might be more about the internal struggles of a character in a normal, but difficult, situation like in 'The Great Gatsby'.

The main difference is that 'historical fiction' is a well - recognized genre term. It involves fictional stories that are set in a particular historical time, often with a lot of research to make the setting, characters, and events seem believable. 'Historic fiction' is not as standard. It could be argued that 'historic' has a more general sense of being related to history, so 'historic fiction' might be a looser form of storytelling related to history, not adhering as strictly to historical facts as 'historical fiction' does.

Historical fiction is a type of fiction that is set in a particular time in the past. Fiction, on the other hand, can be set in any time or place, real or imagined. For example, a historical fiction novel might be set during the American Civil War, while a regular fiction novel could be set in a made - up fantasy world.

Period fiction often focuses on a particular era, like the Victorian period, and may emphasize the social mores and lifestyles of that time more than strict historical accuracy. Historical fiction, on the other hand, is more concerned with depicting real historical events and figures accurately within a fictional narrative. For example, a period fiction might focus on the fashion and courtship rituals of the 18th century without necessarily tying it to a major historical event. While historical fiction could be about a battle or a political movement and would strive to be as accurate as possible about the facts related to it.

Historical fiction is set in the past and often incorporates real events and people. Realistic fiction, on the other hand, is set in the present or recent times and focuses on common, contemporary experiences.

Realistic fiction deals with current and relatable scenarios. It might be about school, friendships, or family in today's world. Historical fiction, though, transports us to a specific past era, like medieval times or the 19th century. It requires research to get the historical details right and make the story feel authentic.

A historical novel is a type of historical fiction. In general, a historical novel often focuses more on the story of individual characters within a historical setting. It may be more plot - driven, with characters' personal dramas and growth at the center. For example, 'War and Peace' by Leo Tolstoy. It's a historical novel that tells the story of several families during the Napoleonic Wars. While historical fiction is a broader term that encompasses various forms of fictional works set in the past. It can include not only novels but also short stories, etc.

The distinction between historical fiction and historical novel is rather blurry. Historically, a historical novel was seen as a major work of prose fiction that was set in the past. It often aimed to recreate a historical period in great detail, with a focus on historical accuracy in terms of events, settings, and social norms. On the other hand, historical fiction can be more fluid. It can include works that play more loosely with historical facts, perhaps using a historical backdrop to tell a more fantastical or personal story. For example, a historical novel about the Roman Empire might be very detailed about the politics, battles, and daily life of that time. But a piece of historical fiction could take a minor event in Roman history and build a fictional love story around it, not being as strict about the overall historical representation.

A historical timeline is an objective record of historical events, arranged in chronological order. It's the backbone of historical knowledge. In contrast, historical fiction is a creative genre. It uses the historical timeline as a foundation but then adds fictional layers. For example, a historical timeline will tell us that the French Revolution took place from 1789 - 1799. A historical fiction set during this time might focus on a fictional family caught up in the revolution, with their own personal struggles and relationships, while still referring to the real - life events of the revolution like the storming of the Bastille.