Historical Fiction Competition

Imagining the life of a court jester

Congratulations to Hugo Schmeisser of 8K, who was awarded second place in this year's historical fiction competition, run by the History Teachers Association of Victoria (HTAV).

To enter, students could write about any period of history as long as the work had a convincing setting that was historically correct in time and place. The judges particularly looked for appropriate dialogue, and details such as landscape, lifestyle and dress, woven into a great narrative.

Hugo's story Jester, originally written as a year 8 Humanities CAT,is set in Medieval times and follows the precarious fortunes of a court entertainer, called upon to perform for the King after a jousting tournament.

I stayed there for what seemed like hours, smiling at departing crowds who chuckled and pointed at me taking me for a joke. But I guess I could not expect anything else, I was called a joker, a fool, a man who does nothing but think of some new jokes to impress others, my job technically was to seek your attention to distract you and to sometimes humiliate myself for others’ entertainment. Yet still I was a large part to the community, the people and the King. I was a man of many talents, a man to help others. And I was proud. Proud of who I was, for it is not an easy job to get. Plus, I was the only one to “mock” any noble I saw fit, even the King, though it must be in the manner of the jester. I can get away with poking fun to any of the noble’s short comings. For how can you blame me, I’m a fool. Finally, the last of the last of the commoners left the stadium and the only people were servants and squires. And so I relieved myself of my duty and walked towards the castle.

Open pdf to read Hugo's story in full.