How do I use context in my essays?
Most GCSE examination boards will require students to discuss contextual factors in their answers at some point. This could include biographical information about the writer, information about society at the time in which the text was written, different genres that writers use, different performances/interpretations of the text and so on.
Check the spec! Is contextual information actually a set requirement for the essay? This can vary between questions and examination boards, as not every question assesses the same assessment objectives. If you are in doubt, check with your teacher/tutor.
Be accurate - You do not need to necessarily tell us specific dates (remember this in English Literature, not History) but make sure at least get the right century! Examiners find it frustrating to keep reading ‘Austen wrote in the Victorian period’ (Regency!) or ‘Shakespeare was commenting on 15th Century England’ (16th/17th Century!)
Avoid sweeping statements - Not all women were abused by their fathers in the Sixteenth Century and not every woman married for money in Regency England! Also, although twelve year old girls could be married in Shakespeare’s time, it does not mean every girl was married at this age! You need to keep your language more nuanced.
Think beyond history - Context could also be discussing different productions of Macbeth and thinking about choices the directors made. Or it could be considering how Stevenson took the conventions of the Gothic genre and adapting them to turn London into a Gothic setting. It means a lot more than just history and often this is the type of contextual information that is more interesting to consider.
Make sure it is relevant to your point - Bolted on context will not secure any marks and often weakens your essay. You should only include context where it adds something interesting to what you are saying. For instance, if you are talking about Macbeth’s doubts about killing Duncan, it would make sense to add a link to the Divine Right of Kings. If you are commenting on the presentation of the supernatural in the play, this context will be less helpful.
The Bright Sky Resources Store has further resources to help students with understanding and including context in their examination responses.
