Historical stories are similar to narratives, however, they mix fact and fiction. A historical story or program is where a story is told about a past event that has happened.

As this often involves memory, interviews and piecing together a variety of sources, the full 'truth' of the matter is not confirmed, rather the story is a mix of fact and fiction.

It is different from autobiographies, as autobiographies are written from the perspective of the individual recounting 'factual' events, historical stories are written by someone other than the person in question. It's written by a third party, just as if they were narrating a story.

Because of this mix, the types of questions that are present in these texts are:

• Inference questions
• Detail questions – regarding facts and information.
• Figurative language questions.

Let's look at these types of questions in the illustrated examples below.

We'll also put into practice the approach to answering questions too.

Illustrated Examples

Example 1 – Napoleon and Josephine

But Napoleon needed an heir, and Joséphine, despite numerous visits to doctors, was unable to conceive. In 1809, she turned 46, and Napoleon gave in to his ministers' pleas. He sat down to dinner with her and told her he must divorce her in order to have a son with another wife.

Joséphine's screams could be heard across the palace. That night, she went to him to try to win him back. 'Go, Joséphine,' he said, 'I will always be your friend.'

Joséphine retreated to their beautiful home outside Paris, Malmaison. She tended her garden and watched her husband marry Marie Louise of Austria and have a longed-for son. She smiled and threw celebratory balls, hiding her tears.

But without Joséphine by his side, Napoleon's luck ran out. His invasion of Russia in 1812 was a terrible failure. The dictator who had terrorised Europe was vulnerable, and by early 1814, the British and Russians were marching on Paris. Napoleon was captured and imprisoned.

Joséphine remained devoted to her former husband and was broken by his imprisonment. Just over a month later, in late May, she caught a chill walking in the gardens. A few days after that, on the day she was due to open a ball, she died. Without Napoleon, she had no spirit to live.

Read more:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-2473426/Life-story-Napoleans-secret-weapon--Jos-phine-Bonaparte.html#ixzz3IY8fMEEe

Question 1 – Why did Napoleon divorce Josephine?

A He was in love with Marie Louise and wanted to marry her.

B In order to have an heir through pressure from his ministers.

C He wanted a lot of children and Josephine could no longer have children.

D Josephine didn't want to provide Napoleon with an heir.

Question 2 – The statement 'She smiled and threw celebratory balls, hiding her tears' showed that:

A Josephine was devastated by the divorce but trying to hide it.

B Josephine kept up appearances to suppress her feelings.

C Her social life was very busy and she tried her best to keep it up.

D She loved Napoleon so much that she supported his new stage in life.

Question 3 – The connection between Josephine and Napoleon was:

A based on mutual trust and acceptance.

B for reciprocal gain in the form of power and social status.

C complete and utter devotion until the very end.

D ongoing in their mutual friendship and support albeit disrupted by the practical need for children.

Example 1 – Coco Chanel

Throughout the 1920s, Chanel's social and professional progress continued, and her eminence as a fashion designer grew to the status of legend. Her growing fame made her one of the "in crowd." She befriended Stravinsky, Picasso and other members of Paris' exclusive art clique, and she designed costumes for Russian ballet impresario Sergei Diaghilev and French filmmaker Jean Cocteau. (Known for her generosity to her friends, Chanel paid for Diaghilev's funeral when he died penniless in Venice.)

During this time, Chanel experimented with many different styles, including Gypsy skirts, over-the-top faux jewelry and glittering eveningwear made of crystal and jet beads. It was also during the '20s that Chanel introduced the product that would ensure her immortality. After the death of Chapel, Chanel became the mistress of Russian Grand Duke Dmitri. Through him, she met Ernest Beaux, a perfumer whose father had worked for the Czar. Beaux was working on an essence for French perfume maker Francois Coty. According to legend, after sampling the scent, Chanel made a few suggestions, then convinced Beaux to give it to her.

In 1924, she released it as Chanel No. 5-the first perfume ever to bear a designer's name. Boldly advertised as "A very improper perfume for nicely brought-up ladies," the dark, leathery, distinctly masculine blend in its Art Deco bottle proved to be liquid gold.

Source: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/197624

Question 1 – What item ensured that the Chanel brand would live forever?

A Gypsy skirts

B Chanel bateau hats

C The original scent by Ernest Beaux.

D Chanel No. 5

Question 2 – What does the "in crowd" refer to?

A the artists and musicians of the time.

B the elite social group at the time.

C rich people.

D famous musicians, singers and dancers.

Key Rules to remember:

• Historical stories/programs are generally a mix of fact and fiction.
• Therefore they can encompass the full range of questions under both literal and figurative language.

Now it's time to do your assignment.

1. Download the assignment question here.
2. Print it out or if you want to do it electronically, save it.
3. Complete the questions to it.
4. Then check the solutions on the video below or download the ANSWER KEY here.

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