The Roman Emperor Caligula once planned to make his horse a consul. Caligula was known for his erratic and cruel behavior. This idea of elevating an animal to such a high political position in the Roman Empire is so absurd that it sounds like a fictional farce, yet it was a real intention of this historical figure.
The Salem Witch Trials are really crazy. In 1692 - 1693 in Salem, Massachusetts, many people, mostly women, were accused of being witches. Hysteria spread throughout the community. People were condemned based on flimsy evidence like strange behavior or dreams. Innocent lives were lost, and it's just so hard to believe that such mass paranoia and false accusations could happen in real history.
There was the case of the Mary Celeste. In 1872, this ship was found adrift in the Atlantic Ocean. The strange thing was that the ship was intact, with all the supplies on board, but the crew was missing. There were no signs of a struggle or any obvious reason for the crew to have abandoned the ship. It has been the subject of much speculation and mystery ever since.
One such event is the Dancing Plague of 1518. In Strasbourg, France, a woman named Frau Troffea started dancing in the street and couldn't stop. This then spread to around 400 people who danced for days, some even to the point of exhaustion and death. It's so strange that it seems like it could be from a fictional story.
The story of the Princes in the Tower is also quite nutty. In 1483, King Edward V and his younger brother Richard, Duke of York, were placed in the Tower of London by their uncle, Richard III. They were never seen again. There are many theories about their fate, ranging from being murdered to escaping and living in secrecy. It's like a real - life mystery thriller.
Well, giving them unique personalities and interesting backstories can do the trick. Also, good looks and special abilities often add to their appeal.
You can tell if fictional characters seem real by looking at how well-developed their personalities and backstories are. If they have complex emotions and motivations, it's a good sign.
It might seem fictional because the scenarios or characters presented are highly idealized or far from typical real-life situations.
You need to give them a detailed backstory. Know where they come from, what shaped them. Also, make their emotions and reactions genuine and relatable.
The movie 'A League of Their Own' strikes a balance between reality and fiction. It uses real events as a backdrop and then weaves in fictional elements to add depth and complexity to the story. So, it's not strictly one or the other.
One way is to base some of its elements on real - world religions. For example, borrowing the idea of charity from Christianity or the concept of karma from Hinduism. Also, make sure the religious practices have a logical connection to the beliefs. If they believe in a water god, their rituals might involve purification with water.
Once upon a Christmas, there was a reindeer named Rudolph who decided he was tired of leading Santa's sleigh. So, he traded places with one of the other reindeer. But the new leader got so confused and led Santa to all the wrong houses! Santa ended up giving toys to the pets instead of the children at first. It was a chaotic but hilarious Christmas.