ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

First-person interpretation

First-person interpretation is when someone puts themselves in the shoes of a person from history and pretends to be them. It's like playing dress-up, but instead of wearing a costume, you act like you are that person.

So, imagine you are playing a game of pretend where you are, say, George Washington. You might dress up in clothes like his and talk like he did. You could even act out some of the things he did or said.

But first-person interpretation isn't just about having fun pretending to be someone else. It's also a way of teaching and learning about history. By pretending to be someone from the past, you can get a better understanding of what life was like for them.

For example, if you were pretending to be a soldier during the Civil War, you might learn about the hardships they faced, like marching long distances and living in tents. You might also learn about the battles they fought and the tactics they used. By experiencing these things yourself, you can get a better idea of what it was like to live during that time period.

So, first-person interpretation is like playing pretend, but with a purpose. It helps us learn about history by stepping into the shoes of people who lived in the past.