Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: identify some of the key time periods for the Jews; demonstrate knowledge and understanding of several historical novels consistent with these eras; discuss how the experiences of specific characters in a fictitious story are representative of true experiences of the time; describe the human aspect of the era, highlighting emotions, struggles, and triumphs of the Jewish spirit; define historical fiction, using specific stories as literary evidence; and synthesize different stories and different time periods into a deep understanding of the Jewish plight over the years.