Literary

Context

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 What is Literary
Context?
A literary context refers the information that guides readers
on how to interpret the meaning of a literary work (play,
poems, stories etc.) The literary context can be established
through the details with the literary work; for example the
environment, timeframe, background information on the
characters etc. All these help the context of the literary work
to be cohesive and meaningful.
Types of
Literary
Contexts
 Social Context
– The social context speaks to the way in
which the features of society and the society
in which the characters live and how it
affects the members in society.
Examples
– Rome was a straight laced society while Egypt was more free. This
can be seen in the interactions Mark Anotny had in Rome vs those
he had in Egypt. In Rome, Antony always seemed to be on guard,
defending his honour and his status within the society. In Egypt
though, Antony was more laid back and lived the life of a king. It
seemed that in Rome there was always some battle for power (the
death of Julius Caesar, the wars Fulvia waged against Pompey
etc) , there was always some hostility in the interactions among
people in Rome. In Egypt however, there was nothing resembling
the sort. 
 Example: PHILO - Nay, but this
dotage of our general’s O’erflows the

Example measure. Those his goodly eyes, That

o’er the files and musters of the war.
Have glowed like plated. Mars, now

From
bend, now turn. The office and
devotion of their view. Upon a tawny
front. His captain’s heart, Which in
the scuffles of great fights hath burst

Text The buckles on his breast, reneges all

temper And is become the bellows
and the fan.To cool a gypsy’s lust.
Historical Context
– The historical context refers to the past and how it has
impacted the literary work and how previous events are
impacting the story being told. The historical context also
ties in with social, religious, economic and political state
that took place within time (month, year, era etc.) and place.
In literature, understanding the historical context behind a
literary work will helps readers to interpret and analyze the
narrative as well as create and appreciation for it.
Examples
– The play takes place in the late 1st century BCE,  during the end of
the roman triumvirate in which there was a power struggle for the
Roman Empire among Lepidus, Antony and Caesar. Lepidus was
ultimately betrayed and imprisoned by Caesar and Antony, whom
he had immense love for as seen in Act 3 scene 5. At the battle of
Actium 33 BCE, a civil war ensued between the remaining rulers
of Rome. This war declared Octavius Caesar the victor who
proceeded to take full control of Rome and established the Roman
Empire. 

Example:  Thrice-nobler than myself!
Example
EROS
Caesar, having made use of him
in the wars 'gainst
Pompey, presently denied him
From
rivality; would not let
him partake in the glory of the
action: and not
resting here, accuses him of
letters he had formerly
Text
wrote to Pompey; upon his own
appeal, seizes him: so
the poor third is up, till death
enlarge his confine.
Act 4 Scene XIV
MARK ANTONY
Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros,
what
I should, and thou couldst not. My
queen and Eros
Have by their brave instruction got
upon me
A nobleness in record: but I will
be
A bridegroom in my death, and
run into't
As to a lover's bed. Come, then;
and, Eros,
Thy master dies thy scholar: to do
thus
Falling on his sword
I learn'd of thee. How! not dead?
not dead?
The guard, ho! O, dispatch me!
Political Context
– It describes how the people within a literary
work are governed. It speaks about the
government or leadership with the country
and/or era.
Examples
– The second triumvirate had originally sent Antony to Egypt to
charm Cleopatra into surrendering Egypt to Rome in order to ease
Rome’s financial crisis. Antony however neglected his duties as he
fell in love with Cleopatra; ultimately leading to his doom, because
this same love distracted him from his duties. The play takes place
in the midst of a battle for power and control of the Roman Empire.
Caesar, though honourable, was perhaps the most vengeful and
greedy for power by even trying to take control of Egypt who had
at the time been under the rulership of a woman; this was unusual
in that era. 
Example FIRST MESSENGER - Fulvia thy wife
first came into the field.

From ANTONY
Against my brother Lucius?

Text
 

FIRST MESSENGER
Ay.
But soon that war had end, and the time’s
state
Made friends of them, joining their force
’gainst Caesar,
Whose better issue in the war from Italy
Upon the first encounter drave them.
 Religious
Context
– How your religion or lack thereof impacts the way you think and behave.
Religious context appear in many forms. It can be presented through the
characters directly or indirectly or as religious or non religious in regards
to his/her identity. Characters will display religious opinions,
experiences, knowledge, roles and responsibilities and their intentions
(whether the person is a Christian, agnostic or a priest). Religion context
can also be displayed through supernatural beings as apart of a narrative
world; for example god of war (Ares) and goddess of fertility
(Aphrodite). Religious context can also be displayed through direct or
indirect references to religious texts, beliefs, rituals etc. within the literary
work.
Religious Context
Cont’d
– A religious context in communication is conveyed
through sender, message and receiver: 1) religious
context of the sender: she or he is a believer or has a
religious background 2) message: the narrative is used to
convey a religious message 3) receiver: she or he is a
believer or a skeptic.
Examples
– Several references are made to Roman mythology throughout the
entire play. The constant mentioning of several gods like Jove,
Venus and Mars reveals to readers that both territories were fond of
a polytheistic religion. 

– Example: ENOBARBUS - Alack, sir, no, her passions are made of

nothing but the finest part of pure love. We cannot call her winds
and waters sighs and tears. They are greater storms and tempests
than almanacs can report. This cannot be cunning in her. If it be,
she makes a shower of rain as well as Jove. (Act 1 Scene 2)
 Ethnic Context
– Ethnic context explains where the characters comes from and
how it impacts their actions and beliefs.
– Literature in which the protagonists or, in the case of poetry,
the speakers, are conscious of being members of a group of
people sharing a common and distinctive racial, national,
religious, linguistic, or cultural heritage. Slideshare (August
2016)
Examples
– Romanians and Egyptians are the two major ethnicities present
within the play. The Eyptian ethnicity in particular impacts their
beliefs in superstition and the use of soothsayers/fortune tellers.
Romanians though are driven by patriarchal values such as complete
dominance. 
–
Example: PHILO - His captain’s heart,Which in the scuffles of great
fights hath burst The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper And is
become the bellows and the fan To cool a gypsy’s lust.
 The ability to know right from wrong. The moral
context is the message being delivered or the deeper
meaning behind the story that the author, poet,
playwright etc. conveys to the readers. moral means.
It can be straightforward or it requires the readers or
audience to analyze on their own.

Moral
Examples
– Honour is a recurring theme throughout the play and is mentioned several
times by Antony, Octavius and even Pompey. Honour was seemingly more
important to the men of Rome than anything else. This was evidenced in
Act 2 when Menas advised Pompey to take advantage of his competitors
while they were  drunk at sea. Pompey however commented that it would be
wrong for him to do since his honour would be tarnished. Honour was also
shown when Antony left the love of his life Cleopatra to go back to Rome to
fulfil his duties (insert Act). The moral context also refers to the lack of
moral complex that Antony had. He cheated on his wife, Fulvia with
Cleopatra and even wished her dad. Additionally, despite knowing that his
heart was with Cleopatra, he still married Octavia knowing  that he would
cheat on her. 
 MENAS
These three world-sharers, these competitors,

Example
Are in thy vessel. Let me cut the cable,
And, when we are put off, fall to their throats.
All there is thine.

From POMPEY   Ah, this thou shouldst have done

And not have spoke on ’t! In me ’tis villainy, In
thee ’t had been good service. Thou must

Text
know, ’Tis not my profit that does lead mine
honor;
Mine honor, it. Repent that e’er thy tongue Hath
so betrayed thine act. Being done unknown, I
should have found it afterwards well done, But
must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.
One’s knowledge or ability
to reason

Intellectu
al
 Examples
– Most characters in the play were driven by greed and
jealousy and acted on impulse. Octavius was a strategist. He
never took the short route to accomplish his agenda but
would rather let events play out and steer them in his favour
(when he won the battle against Antony thus forcing him to
kill himself and soon controlled the Roman empire). Antony
on the other hand, lacked sound reasoning as he did not
know how to separate his feelings from his duties as a
leader. This is evident when they were preparing for the
Battle of Actium and instead of thinking for himself and
taking the advice of his commanders he decided to listen to
Cleopatra who has never been to battle before. 
– In Act 3 Scene 7
ANTONY
– I will fight by sea. By sea.
ENOBARBUS
– Most worthy sir, if you do that you throw away all
the advantages you have on land. You will have to
divide your army, which mostly consists of battle-
hardened foot soldiers. You will be unable to use
your legendary battle knowledge. You’ll be
abandoning proven methods that promise victory,
and instead you’ll put yourself at the mercy of
haphazard chance.
Cultural Context
– The cultural context shows how the lifestyle of the
characters impact the story being portrayed to the readers
and/or audience. The cultural context of a text helps the
readers to grasp a better understand of what is occurring
and why it is occurring. Factors of cultural context includes
setting/location, background, different cultures or tribes,
beliefs, traditions, and community. Each of these items
affects how a reader looks at and understands what is
happening in that text or literary work.
Examples
– Religion and superstition play a huge role in the cultural context of
the play. Throughout, there is the mention of various fortune tellers
and foreshadowing especially in Egypt with the subtle references to
gypsies. Additionally, the beliefs and standards of both Rome and
Egypt are vastly different since while it is acceptable to have a
matriarch such as Cleopatra, Rome could only be ruled by tyrannical
men. 

– Example: SOOTHSAYER- You shall outlive the lady whom you serve.
– CHARMIAN - Oh, excellent! I love long life better than figs…..Out, fool! I
forgive thee for a witch.
Physical Context
– The refers to the environment in the literary work which
encompasses the climate, terrain, physical items and
material things. Physical context refers to the setting in
which a work of writing takes place (background,
location etc.) It is the physical environment in which the
story, or an event within the story, occurs.
Examples
– The play is set in Alexandria, Egypt and Rome, Italy. Egypt is
closer to the Equator than Rome hence its hotter than Rome.
This influences the way the Egyptians dressed and is evident
through the constant fanning of Cleopatra by her Eunuchs. 
– Example: Flourish. Enter ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, her ladies,
the train, with eunuchs fanning her (Act 1 Scene 1)
 Psychological Context
– How the mental state of the character causes them to act.
In literary works such as a psychological novels, the
thoughts, feelings, and motivations of the characters are
of equal or greater interest than is the external action of
the narrative. When analyzing literary works the authors,
playwrights, poets etc. used psychological theories to
their advantage to help readers connect on a more
emotional level.
 Examples
–  Cleopatra’s character was that of a unique woman in – Example: CLEOPATRA - I have a mind to
that era. She is a female leader, who is often portrayed strike thee ere thou speak’st. Yet if thou say
as a woman of strength and promiscuity, unlike more
Antony lives, is well, Or friends with
typical women such as Octavia who is submissive and
Caesar, or not captive to him, I’ll set thee
follows the orders of men. Though she was quite
emotional, she used her emotions as a weapon to in a shower of gold and hail Rich pearls
further her own agenda in ruling her country and upon thee.
satisfying her desires. As a queen, she was used to
getting what she wanted and hearing what she wanted.
She had an obsessive love for Antony and often acted
out as a result of it. She frequently lashed out against
her servants and messengers as a result.
Biographical Context
– The biographical context explains how the
writer’s life impacts the story. Biographical
context, are formed from the beliefs, education,
culture, and experiences of the author.
Examples
– Shakespeare was a renowned playwright but what many don't
know is that he was from a middle class family and he went to
grammar school but received no higher education. In Antony and
Cleopatra, Shakespeare ensures to allow the servants and other
persons of the lower class to speak. This is influenced by his lower
social class before he was a playwright and also the fact that he
was able to make his voice be heard through his writing hence he
did the same for the people of a lower class in Antony and
Cleopatra.
 SOOTHSAYER

Example
Your fortunes are alike.

IRAS

From
But how, but how? Give me particulars.

SOOTHSAYER
I have said.

Text IRAS
Am I not an inch of fortune better than
she?