Context in interpretation
The understanding that texts gain meaning through their contexts—historical period, social conditions, literary tradition, and authorial biography. Context shapes how texts are produced, received, and interpreted.
Real World
Shakespeare wrote 'Othello' in 1603, when anxieties about race and outsiders were inflamed by Queen Elizabeth I's royal proclamation ordering the expulsion of 'blackamoors' — knowing this historical context transforms how audiences read Othello's vulnerability.
Exam Focus
Embed context within your analysis of language, not in separate paragraphs — examiners penalise contextual knowledge that is unconnected to textual detail.
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