Analysing a Novel

Some basic, essential questions:

1. Why is it necessary to understand the historical and cultural context of the novel?
2. How does it help to understand the author's background? Is it neccesary to learn about the author's background?
3. Is it possible to appreciate the text without pre-reading about the historical and cultural context of the novel / background of the novel?

Answer 1:

It is necessary to understand the historical and cultural context of a novel because they may provide much information as to why or how the novel was written in a certain way. The historical context may explain why the book was written in a certain setting or time period. For example, in the book To Kill a Mockingbird, the book was written in a setting and time period where discrimination against Negroes was commonplace. This would explain why prejudice and discrimination against Negroes is used in the book to convey the sense that something innocent is being hunted, targeted, and finally killed. It is used as a descriptive mechanism and also to keep the plot moving. In the book, a mockingbird is compared to a Negro rather than something else, such as a young innocent child or a frail old man. The cultural context may also give answers to why certain social-political norms exist in the setting of the book. For example, in To Kill a Mockingbird, there were certain standards that existed. Negroes were shunned like filth and dirt. Also, people spoke in Southern accents, like country bumpkins. These are explained by the origins of the book, which was written in the southern part of the U.S.A. (United States of America)

Answer 2: It can be beneficial to understand the author's background. The background of the author may give clues to why a certain psychology was employed in the book, or why the book was written in a certain perspective, or why a certain setting was used in the book. For example, the author of the book To Kill a Mockingbird was Harper Lee, a woman who grew up in 1925, Alabama. This explains the setting in Alabama, and it explains the time period. In 1925, people still held to the belief that Negroes were dirty, filthy, unintelligent, etc. That is why there is a predominant prejudical attitude towards Negroes in the book. Also, Harper Lee was not herself a supporter of the discrimination against Negroes. That is why the Negroes in the book are portrayed as innocent beings shunned because of their skin colour. For example, Negroes are victimised in the book. E.g. Tom Robinson lost the court battle against two other people just because he was black and they were not. The Negroes were not allowed to go to the normal church, instead they were forced to set up a church by themselves to worship. Negroes had to live in designated areas, in isolation from the white community.

Answer 3: Even though understanding the historical and cultural context will help readers comprehend a good novel, a good novel is a work of art in itself. It is still possible to appreciate a work of art without prior knowledge of its cultural/historical context and setting. One could marvel at the unique/well-developed plot, or the excellent use of vocabulary, or the balanced character development and setting description, or perhaps an accurate and deep representation of a well-chosen theme. A good novel will also have a good rising action, building up extreme tension, until finally the climax arrives. Moreover, not only can one learn good/unique phrases, similes and metaphors from good novels, but also how to use phrases, similes, metaphors and descriptions to the best of their effect.