Historical Fiction and a Passion for the Past
Single subject — no qualification is awarded on completion. Credits toward the qualifications listed below.
This subject is FEE-HELP eligible, so eligible students can defer the $650 fee as a government loan and pay nothing upfront.
Fees and funding are indicative only. Confirm your eligibility and final costs with the provider.
About this subject
Historical fiction is one of the oldest genres of the literary novel, but the past is also used in many different ways in popular mass-market fiction such as romance and fantasy. This unit explores the use of history in narrative forms, including medieval literature, the rise of the novel in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, and the explosion of popular genre fiction in the twentieth century. It looks at how the genre became "feminised" and the role of the novelist Georgette Heyer in creating a new subgenre of historical romance. It explores how the past, from the ancient world to Australian history, has been fictionalised. Yet the twenty-first century historical novel is not merely entertaining; it can create debates and challenge public perceptions of the past in unsettling ways. Students will also consider how Australian authors have used historical fiction to retell or offer alternative narratives about the nation. By the end of this unit, students will understand how the past informs literary and popular fiction, and why historical fiction can sometimes be considered a form of historiographical interpretation, especially in novels relating to the Second World War and the Holocaust.
Historical Fiction and a Passion for the Past is a standalone subject at Macquarie University in NSW. Completing it does not award a qualification. Credit may apply toward the qualifications listed on this page.
No qualification credit mapping has been indexed for this subject yet. The provider may still grant credit toward a related award — confirm with Macquarie University before enrolling.
Macquarie University is the awarding provider. Recorded study modes are Online. Typical duration is listed as 13 weeks. The subject is listed at 25 credit points. Eligible students may defer fees through FEE-HELP.
Details on this page are compiled from the provider's published subject information and government registers. Fees, intakes and credit rules can change — confirm current details with Macquarie University before enrolling.
Listing facts
- Type
- Single subject
- National code
- MAQ-ENGX2040
- Field of education
- Information technology
- Provider
- Macquarie University
- Credit points
- 25
- Study mode
- Online
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Qualifications listed
- 0
- FEE-HELP
- Eligible
Prerequisites
Prior study required