Paper 2 Contextual Lens plan

Part 3: Texts and Contexts

Paper 2 – The Contextual Lens

Context influences the production of a text and the interpretation of a text. Even if you do not respond
to the contextual question you still must comment on context – see instructions below.
Answer one essay question only. You must base your answer on at least two of the Part 3 works you
have studied. Answers which are not based on a discussion of at least two Part 3 works will not score
high marks. Your answer should address the ways in which language and context contribute to your
reading of each work.
There are six questions on paper 2; each one has a specific ‘lens’ but each requires you to know about
context.
A) Contextual lens – How context influences the production of a text.
B) Reception lens – How readers interpret texts (reader response theory).
C) Political lens – How works of literature present particular political ideals or values.
D) Thematic lens – How the themes are connected between texts.
E) Stylistic lens – How authors use stylistic choices to convey their message.
The Paper 2 exam is asking you to do three things. In fact, these correspond to the first three criteria.
Try looking at good samples and with three different colors of highlighter pens, highlights examples of
each of these three.

A) Be knowledgeable on the text and the context.

B) Do not forget to answer the question.
C) Remember to comment on the author's use of language, style and structure.

Those of you looking to get an IB 4 and above need to think about the connection between context
and language/style/structure.
Context – where the Context of production – Context of reading –
novel is set? when was the novel how does your context
written? influence the reception
of this text?
Slaughterhouse-Five

All Quiet on the

Western Front

How do two literary works both reflect and challenge the spirit of the times in which they were written?
How are the characters from at least two literary works representational of people from the time and
place in which they were written?
How do the conflicts between characters reflect the kinds of conflicts from the time and place in which
the texts were written?

IBDP English Language and Literature Kym Brotherton 2014

 Paper 2 Contextual Lens plan
Part 3: Texts and Contexts

Contextual evidence in Chapter 6

Whilst reading chapter 6 make notes of the contextual evidence you find within the chapter.

"The Front is a cage in which we must await fearfully whatever may happen. We lie under the network
of arching shells and live in suspense of uncertainty. Over us Chance hovers"

The Battle

Life in the trenches – food,

sleep and rats.

Lack of maintenance on
weapons and the trenches

Psychological influence of
shell shock on the soldiers.

The way the soldiers feel

about death – chance/fate

IBDP English Language and Literature Kym Brotherton 2014

 Paper 2 Contextual Lens plan
Part 3: Texts and Contexts

Name:____________________________________________
Question chosen:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Thesis statement:
 Clear and succinct
sentence that
presents your
argument.
 Includes key words
from the question.
 Includes the
elements you will
discuss within the
essay.

Body – Minimum of three ‘comparative paragraphs’ or six ‘text-by text’ paragraphs.

Slaughterhouse-Five All Quiet on the Western Front
Context:
 How does the
context influence
the creation of the
text?
 How does the
context of
production influence
the creation of the
text?
 Where do we see
the author’s
experiences
presented?
 How might this text
reflect the time in
which it was written
and produced?

IBDP English Language and Literature Kym Brotherton 2014

 Paper 2 Contextual Lens plan
Part 3: Texts and Contexts

 What influence does

context have on our
reading of this text?

Characterization and
themes:
 How are the
characters and
themes the novel
creations of the
context?
 How does the
context of the text
influence the
choices and
decisions made by
the character?
 How does the
language used by
characters reflect
the context?
 Why did the author
choose these
characters and
themes?
Narrative Style and
Technique:
 Was there a twist, a
climax, a conflict
that was of
particular
importance that
helped you
understand the
context further?
 How is it important
to understanding
the context?
 Who is telling the
story? Why did the
author choose to tell
it this way? Is the
narration in first or
third person?

IBDP English Language and Literature Kym Brotherton 2014

 Paper 2 Contextual Lens plan
Part 3: Texts and Contexts

Conclusion:
 Reword thesis -
reversal
 What is the
significance of these
texts in literature
and the wider
world?
 What unanswered
questions remain?

Using three colours highlight in your plan where you have met the focus of the three criteria below:

IBDP English Language and Literature Kym Brotherton 2014