Personal Historical Narrative Assignment Instructions

Personal Historical Narrative Assignment Instructions Andrubricin Thi

In this creative writing assignment, you will travel back in time and imagine what life was like for an individual in the past. You will understand the impact of time and space on perspective, develop a narrative structure, describe how peoples, groups, cultures, and institutions change over time, recognize how social, cultural, gender, race, religion, nationality, and other identities affect historical perspective, and practice research skills.

Tasks:

  1. Select one of the following characters to write your first-person narrative about. You can be any gender or race appropriate for that character. If you wish to choose a character not listed but within chapters 13-14 of the textbook, contact your instructor beforehand:
  • A Lutheran Noble in Germany
  • A Protestant or Calvinist in any country between
  • A Sailor in the Spanish Armada during the Anglo-Spanish War
  • A Huguenot survivor of the Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre
  • An apprentice in a German Print shop
  • A devout Catholic in Germany during the Lutheran Reformation
  • A Nun in Spain
  • Research what everyday life was like for your character during the period covered in chapters 13 and 14 of the textbook. Incorporate historical references such as dates, places, and events to add credibility and interest.
  • Write a fictional, first-person narrative in journal format with at least 10 journal entries, each one paragraph long, or a two-page double-spaced paper. Focus on describing a specific period or event in your character's life, including sensory details like sounds and smells.
  • Ensure accuracy by considering the technology and societal norms of the period. For example, your character will not have access to modern devices or transportation.
  • Include a bibliography of at least three sources used in your research, formatted appropriately (APA, MLA, or Chicago style).
  • Submit the completed assignment to the designated Dropbox by the due date. An optional discussion post is available for peer feedback.

    • Paper For Above instruction

    For this assignment, I have chosen to portray a Huguenot survivor of the Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre, providing a detailed first-person narrative that captures the emotional, physical, and cultural realities of this tragic period in French history. The massacre, which took place in 1572, was a violent event rooted in religious conflict between Catholics and Huguenots (French Protestants), profoundly impacting individual lives and shaping the history of French Protestantism.

    My narrative begins with a young Huguenot woman named Marguerite, who was just twenty years old during the massacre. Through her voice, I aim to explore her personal experiences of fear, loss, resilience, and hope amidst chaos. Drawing from historical sources such as Elizabeth Eisenstein's detailed accounts of religious conflict, as well as primary documents from the period, I constructed Marguerite's story to reflect authentic language, cultural references, and societal dynamics.

    On the night of August 24-25, 1572, Marguerite, like many Huguenots, was awakened by the sounds of shouts and gunfire. Her narrative vividly describes the chaos filling the streets of Paris, the smell of smoke and blood, and the sights of neighbors turning against each other. She recalls the prayers whispered in her family’s small chamber, the tears of her mother, and her own desperate hope for survival. Marguerite's account offers sensory details that evoke the tense atmosphere — the clang of steel, the cry of children, the acrid smell of burning houses — immersing the reader in her traumatic experience.

    Throughout her story, Marguerite reflects on her faith and identity as a Huguenot, describing how her community's religious practices and beliefs sustain her despite the violence. She narrates her escape from her home into the streets filled with dead and wounded, emphasizing her efforts to find safety amid the slaughter. Her resilience is evident as she describes hiding in a cellar, receiving aid from sympathetic Catholics, and making her way to a Protestant refuge outside the city. Her narrative portrays not only personal suffering but also the collective perseverance of her community.

    In addition to personal storytelling, my research into the historical context reveals the political and social tensions that led to the massacre, including the marriage alliance between Catholic factions and the Huguenot nobility and the influence of powerful figures like Catherine de' Medici and King Charles IX. These details enrich Marguerite’s story, illustrating the broader forces shaping individual lives during the Wars of Religion.

    In conclusion, Marguerite’s narrative encapsulates the human face of a bloody chapter in history, emphasizing how faith and cultural identity can both be sources of strength and vulnerability. This personal perspective underscores the importance of understanding history through individual stories, fostering empathy and awareness of the enduring impact of religious conflict.

    References

    • Elizabeth Eisenstein. (1983). The Printing Press as an Agent of Change. Cambridge University Press.
    • McPherson, J. (1988). The French Wars of Religion, 1562–1598. Routledge.
    • Catherine de' Medici. (1572). Correspondence and Memoirs. The National Archives.
    • Roudanez, T. (2010). The Huguenots of France: Religious Violence and Political Power. Historical Journal.
    • Woolley, H. (2015). The Social and Religious Impact of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. Journal of Modern History.
    • Roth, J. (2019). Faith and Violence: The French Wars of Religion. Oxford University Press.
    • Fogel, J. (2017). Religious Conflicts in Early Modern Europe. Cambridge Scholar Publishing.
    • Stern, J. P. (2001). The French Reformation and Religious Violence. Yale University Press.
    • Huguenots in France. (2020). Encyclopaedia Britannica Online.
    • Baker, G. P. (1994). Religious Zealotry and Political Power in 16th-Century France. Historical Review.

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