Literature: Texts and Contexts

IB programmeLanguage and Literature

Learning outcomesConsider the changing historical, cultural

and social contexts in which particular texts are written and received.

Demonstrate how the formal elements of the text, genre and structure cannot only be seen to influence meaning but also be influenced by context.

Understand the attitudes and values expressed by literary texts and their impact on readers.

What does it mean to be able to read?More than decoding words.We all need to bring knowledge

and experience our reading of the text.

To be an informed reader means to understand the forces on an author, on the meaning and interpretation of a work, and on our own personal reactions.

What are contexts?Context can be defined simply as the

circumstances that surround a given text and help to specify its meaning.

How a short passage is significant to the whole or how the whole affects the whole passage.

OrAll the possible circumstances that

somehow contribute to the meaning of a text.

Why contexts?Because of the wide variety of

external forces that affect the general reception or understanding of a work.

Why may this be problematic?Because it is difficult to decide

what information is necessary to better understand a text and it is also difficult to decide where to stop and turn back to the text itself.

The context and the readerYou, as the reader, are part of the

context. The meaning that is communicated is influenced by everything you bring to it, from your reading to your personal experiences and biases.

The life and times of the author

It is a straightforward step to think about:

- The life and times of the author- The broad cultural, political, and

aesthetic concerns of the day.

Taken from:Allison, R. And Chanen B. (2011). English

A: Language and Literature, Course Companion. Oxford University Press.

General questions about contextWhat is the cultural and

educational background of the author?

What views on writing or culture has the author expressed?

What are the values and aesthetic concerns of the culture of the author?

What historical events may have influenced the ideas in the work?

General questions about contextWhat are the political or

economic issues of the times?What cultural issues may have

influenced, challenged, or inspired the author?