Understanding
LITERARY CONTEXT
Hyacinth Dagulo_02/04
Learning
a. Identify and describe the types of context that
might be OBJECTIVES
reflected in texts; and
b. interpret texts by using literary context.
CONTEXT DEFINED
circumstances surrounding
an event, idea, or statement
that adds meaning to a text.
includes both internal
context (details provided by
the author) and external
context (historical, cultural,
and personal influences).
CONTEXT clue
He was frugal with his spending,
often opting for generic brands
instead of more expensive ones.
ECONOMICAL
The instructions were
ambiguous, leaving many
students confused about what
they were supposed to do.
UNCLEAR/ ARGUABLE
How important CONTEXT is?
Context serves as a bridge
between the writer and
reader, enhancing
comprehension and
engagement with the text.
Importance of Literary analysis
Readers can recognize cultural biases
or assumptions in the work.
provides accurate intrepretation of
dialogue and character interactions
provides insights into character
motivations and behaviors
Types of CONTEXT
FIVE MAIN LITERARY CONTEXTS
Authorial Historical
Context Context
Social Cultural
Contex Context
t
Types of CONTEXT
FIVE MAIN LITERARY CONTEXTS
Philosophica Biographical
l Context Context
Religious
Context
Authorial Context
Authorial context includes the author’s
personal life, education, beliefs, and other
works. It encompasses how their upbringing,
and life experiences might have shaped the
text.
Knowledge of the author's background
allows readers to connect the author's
life to the themes, characters, and
choices made in their work.
Historical Context
Z
Historical context refers to the time
period in which a text was written or set.
It encompasses the historical events,
timeframe and circumstances that
influenced the text.
helps readers understand how historical
events might have shaped the themes,
ideas and characters within the text.
Questions to ask:
What major historical
Where and when was Where and when was
events were occurring
the text written? the text set?
at the time the text
was written or set?
Is there any language
Were any wars or What types of
or vocabulary
conflicts occurring at technology were
specific to the time
the time? available at the time?
period?
Cultural Context
Cultural context refers to the customs,
traditions, values, and beliefs and way of life
specific to a group of people in which a text
is situated or in which the author belongs to.
Learning about cultural context helps with
interpreting symbolism and references that
may be specific to a particular culture,
enabling readers to grasp deeper meanings
within a text.
Questions to ask:
What is the cultural
What are the What traditions,
background of the
prevailing cultural customs, or rituals are
society, community or
values and beliefs mentioned in the text?
group portrayed in the
within this group?
text?
Are there religious or Does the text Are there specific
spiritual elements incorporate language cultural symbols,
present in the text? or dialect specific to metaphors, or
the cultural context? imagery used in the
text?
Social Context
Social context refers to the
social structure, norms, and
relationships in society during
the time when the text was
created including gender roles
and power relationships.
Questions to ask:
What is the social
What are the What are the gender
structure? Are there
prevailing social roles and expectations
distinct social classes,
norms and in the culture depicted
and if so, how do they
expectations in this in the text?
interact within the
society?
text? Who holds power in Does the author
How are families and
this society? Are there seem to use the text
communities
any instances of to make a
structured in the
inequality or social commentary on
text?
injustice? social issues?
Philosophical Context
This focuses on the
ideas or beliefs that
shape the story, like
questions about what is
right and wrong.
Identify the Literary to be used:
1. The Lord of the Flies is the 1954 debut novel of
British author William Golding. The plot concerns a
group of Britishboys who are stranded on an
uninhabited island and their disastrous attempts to
govern themselves. The novel’s theme include morality,
leadership and the tension between civility and chaos.
SOCIAL CONTEXT
Identify the Literary to be used:
2. The story of the unlikely friendship between an
Italian-American bouncer and driver Tony Vallelonga
(Viggo Mortensen) and the erudite concert pianist Don
Shirley (Mahershala Ali) serves as a simple but powerful
reminder that for most America’a history, race has
trumped class when it comes to the treatment of its
citizens. What literary context can be best used to
analyze the movie?
SOCIAL CONTEXT
Identify the Literary to be used:
3. The scientists found that residents of Argentina, Peru,
and Bulgraia stand the closest to strangers when
communicating, while those fro Romania, Hungary, and
Saudi Arabia want the most space. Americans were
somewhere int he middle.
CULTURAL CONTEXT
Identify the Literary to be used:
4. “As if a girl of that sort would ever
refuse money.” An Inspector’s Call by
J.B Priestly
SOCIAL CONTEXT
THE
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