Amanita
Maester
Hello,
there's something I'd like to get a few opinions on. I've reached a part of my story where my main character needs some information about a historical figure and his role. She's in a school-like setting, so doing it through a lesson is the most obvious example. I don't want an annoying "info-dump" of course but I'm not sure if I can even judge this properly because I tend to be really interested in the historical background of fantasy worlds and therefore almost always like these kinds of scenes in other books.
The teacher holding the lesson is one the main characters dislikes and distrusts for various reasons. The subject matter at hand is very controversial.
So I thought I'd write him telling them the backstory in small bits, being interrupted by students asking questions, doubting the truth of his statement, getting upset about the subject and so on. The main character being from another country knows almost nothing about the subject but has strong personal feelings about some elements of it, while most of her classmates know more and have strongly formed opinions beforehand.
This way, the scene isn't only about the information but also about the character's positions on important issues which plays a huge part in my main character's opinion about them.
The question if the teacher is really telling them the entire truth remains open as well. (He doesn't lie to them on purpose but he's arguing in favor of a certain position.)
Do you think this can work or would it still be too boring for the reader?
Making the main character discover the information herself through old books or something would be an option as well of course, but at this point of the story, she doesn't know how important it's going to be for her yet. (And therefore only cares about the reactions but not about the stuff happening 100 years ago itself.)
there's something I'd like to get a few opinions on. I've reached a part of my story where my main character needs some information about a historical figure and his role. She's in a school-like setting, so doing it through a lesson is the most obvious example. I don't want an annoying "info-dump" of course but I'm not sure if I can even judge this properly because I tend to be really interested in the historical background of fantasy worlds and therefore almost always like these kinds of scenes in other books.
The teacher holding the lesson is one the main characters dislikes and distrusts for various reasons. The subject matter at hand is very controversial.
So I thought I'd write him telling them the backstory in small bits, being interrupted by students asking questions, doubting the truth of his statement, getting upset about the subject and so on. The main character being from another country knows almost nothing about the subject but has strong personal feelings about some elements of it, while most of her classmates know more and have strongly formed opinions beforehand.
This way, the scene isn't only about the information but also about the character's positions on important issues which plays a huge part in my main character's opinion about them.
The question if the teacher is really telling them the entire truth remains open as well. (He doesn't lie to them on purpose but he's arguing in favor of a certain position.)
Do you think this can work or would it still be too boring for the reader?
Making the main character discover the information herself through old books or something would be an option as well of course, but at this point of the story, she doesn't know how important it's going to be for her yet. (And therefore only cares about the reactions but not about the stuff happening 100 years ago itself.)