Historical context
The historical events, social conditions, political situations, and time periods that influenced a text's creation and meaning. Historical context includes wars, social movements, technological changes, and cultural shifts that shape what writers write and how they write it.
Real World
Wilfred Owen wrote 'Dulce et Decorum Est' in 1917 while recovering from shell shock at Craiglockhart — knowing this context transforms the poem from a general anti-war statement into a direct, desperate rebuttal of propaganda circulating at the time.
Exam Focus
Integrate context as evidence, not background — show how a specific historical fact shapes a specific authorial choice in the text.
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