Module: Fact, Fiction & European History

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Fact, Fiction & European History
Module Code	HIS1027 (ITS: HY236)
Faculty	History & Geography	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	10

Description

What is the value of academic history, popular history, and historical fiction? How should the creators of any of these genres interact with fact, fiction, sources, and ideas about authority? Is there intellectual and educational value in all three? This module sets out to answer these questions, by looking at how history is disseminated to the public through popular media. We will discuss both popular historical work and works of historical fiction disseminated as in written, audio, and film formats, focusing on premodern European history. Students will have the opportunity to both critique and create works of popular history or historical fiction and consider how historians can best reach their intended audiences and make history come alive.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand the different expectations and requirements of academic history, popular history, and historical fiction.
2. Articulate nuanced arguments about accuracy and authority in different forms of historical writing.
3. Identify, access, and critically analyse fictional, popular, and academic media.
4. Create an example of public-facing popular history or historical fiction.
5. Critique an example of public-facing popular history or historical fiction.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	48	No Description
Independent Study	202	No Description
Total Workload: 250

Section Breakdown
CRN	20532	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator		Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Essay	500-750 word essay	15%	Week 3
Essay	1000-1500 word critical review	30%	As required
Project	1000-1500 word creative piece in medium of choice (with written component)	30%	As required
Participation	Participation in class sessions and completion of collaborative annotations	25%	Every Week

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Engaging the Public in History

Questions of Accuracy and Purpose

Historical Fiction Novels

Written Popular history/nonfiction

History at the cinema

Historical documentaries

Podcasting history

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:

Hayden White: 2005, Introduction: Historical Fiction, Fictional History, and Historical Reality, Rethinking History, 9, 518985
2005: Fiction for the Purposes of History, Rethinking History, 9, 518986, 1
The Trouble with History and Fiction: M/C Journal, 14,

Other Resources

1: Additional resources will be posted on Loop,