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Unit NineEnglish 10

History, Culture, and the Author

…is a WRITER A writer’s words may entertain,

inform or inspire, But they may also reveal glimpses into

his or her background, beliefs, or times. Learning more about writers and the

forces that shaped their lives can help you discover unexpected layers of meaning in the literature as you read.

Behind every work of literature…

“Write what you know.”

A writer’s background includes factors such as heritage, national identity, customs, and values.

The Writer’s Background

Heritage is ideas, traditions, and customs passed down from generation to generation.

National identity is the characteristics that identify someone as from a specific nation.The Writer’s

Background

Customs are accepted practices of people in a particular group or region.

Values are standards or qualities viewed as worthwhile or desirable.The Writer’s

Background

1. What beliefs and values are reflected in the writing?

2. What aspects of the author’s background are evident?

3. What does the background reveal about the author’s motivation for writing this story?

Questions to Ask

Read the author background and excerpt from Paule Marshall’s short story “To Da-Duh, in Memorium” on p. 846.

Next, read and answer the three questions on the right side of the page.

Practice

Model 1: Analyzing a Poem Read the poem, “Women” by Alice Walker,

and note what images come to mind.

Model 2: The Writer’s Background Next, read the background information

about Alice Walker to see how it changes or enhances your understanding of her poem.

Practice

What effect would Anne Frank’s diary have on you if you knew nothing of the horrors of the Holocaust or her ultimate fate?

To fully understand some works of literature, you need a sense of their historical and cultural context—the social and cultural conditions that influenced their creation.

Historical and Cultural Influences

Historical influence includes events happening at the time a work was written, such as wars, both in the writer’s community and in the world.

Cultural influences include issues or social problems people at the time were considering.

Historical and Cultural Influences

1. How does the conflict in a work reflect the struggles of the time?

2. How are the work’s characters portrayed?

3. How does your knowledge of history help you understand the work?

Questions to Ask

Read the background and excerpt from The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck on p. 848.

Next, read and answer the three questions on the right side of the page.

Practice

Model 1: Analyzing Fiction Read the excerpt from “The Californian’s

Tale” by Mark Twain and consider what you already know about the time period.

Model 2: Historical and Cultural Context Read the background on the gold rush circa

1848 and consider how this information enhances your understanding of the “wasted lives” of the men in Twain’s story.

Practice