Contexts of literary works

The Main Contexts

of a Literary Work

Essential Question

• How can knowledge of the various contexts of a literary work enhance our understanding and appreciation of the text?

Literary Contexts

• To understand and appreciate a literary selection, a reader must understand the significant contexts in which it was written.

Biographical Context

• What biographical facts has the author used in the text?

• What insights do readers acquire about the author’s life by reading the text?

Historical Context

• What specific historical events were happening when the work was being composed?

• What historical events does this work deal with?

• In what ways did history influence the writer’s outlook?

Geographical Context

• Is this author a regionalist writer?• How does dialect influence

the text?

Political Context

• What political events are significant to the text?

• What political events were occurring at the time the work was written?

• What political beliefs does the author seem to have?

Philosophical/Religious Context

• Are any religions or philosophies mentioned specifically in the text?

• What religious/ethical/philosophical beliefs does the author seem to favor?

• What behavior do the characters display that the author wants us to think is “right”?

• What behavior is “wrong”? How can one tell?

Sociological Context

• What sort of society does the writer describe?

• What does the writer seem to like/dislike about this society?

• What changes do you think the writer would like to make in the society? Evidence?

• What sorts of pressures does the society put on its members? How do members respond?

Psychological Context

• What theories of human behavior does the writer seem to believe?

• What theories of human behavior does the writer seem to reject?

• How do people’s minds work in the text?

• In what ways does the structure & organization of the story indicate the writer’s beliefs about the workings of the mind.

Literary Contexts at Work