EXPLAIN THE LITERARY,

BIOGRAPHICAL,SOCIO-
CULTURAL AND
LINGUISTIC CONTEXTS
OF LITERARY TEXT
 Do you believe that….
• In reading literature, you are able to find rich
cultures, beliefs and language of different authors.
• As a 21 st
century learner, you encounter literary text
which challenges your understanding.
• You will find out that learning the biographical,
linguistic and sociocultural contexts can enhance
the text's meaning and enrich your understanding of
a certain literary work.
•Learning these various contexts will lead
you to appreciate literary pieces and
authors.
•Eventually, this will help you to show
more sympathy to every person you meet
knowing that they may have similar or
different experiences.
 BIOGRAPHICAL CONTEXT

requires the readers to analyze the life and experience

of the author to understand the literary text.
 Is it essential for readers to understand the
author’s background?

•Understanding the author’s life can help

you understand his or her work
thoroughly. This can happen by reading
the author’s biography or autobiography.
 Here are the biographical strategies that you may use:

1. Research on what author believes in and also what he/she does

not.

2. Analyze how the author`s belief system is reflected in his/her

work.

3. Look at the author`s other works and analyze if there is a pattern

with regard to the theme that is indicative of his/her life and beliefs .
 SOCIOCULTURAL CONTEXT

requires the reader to analyze the social, economic, political and cultural standpoint of the literary text.
• It is important to note the year or period a literary
text was written for readers to be able to identify the
historical or significant events that took place in that
year which add to the readers’ understanding of the
text.
• In reading using sociocultural context, you will
examine the factors that affect the writing of the
literary text and how the work was received by the
readers during the time it was written.
 Here are some guide questions that you may
answer when you are reading literature through the
sociocultural context:

What is the relationship between the characters or

speakers in the text and their society?

How does this story reflect the nation? What does this
say about the country and its inhabitants?
 LINGUISTIC CONTEXT

Requires the readers to analyze the

language, form and structures of the text.
Reading through a linguistic context
focuses on the language used in the
literary work and how it is used to
convey meaning.
 The following are some strategies you may use to read a context
through the linguistic context:

• Analyze the diction or choice of words in the text.

• Examine the text use of sentences, clause, phrases, line cuts,
etc
• Observe the use of figurative language.
• Analyze the mood and tone of the text.
• Observe the text`s overall structure .
• Analyze the content of the text.
 How do you explain your analysis of a
literary piece?(poem)

•Poem analysis essay (Liza Erpelo, 2009)

 Poem Analysis Essay by Liza Erpelo, 2009
• Introduction – provide the necessary background in 3-5 sentences: title of
poem, poet’s name/ any relevant biographical facts, and summary of poem’s
subject or topic. In your thesis sentence, identify the literary element(s) to be
analyzed and the approach or direction of the analysis.
• Body Paragraphs- the number of paragraphs will be based on the number of
elements you analyze and the number of claims that you make.
• Conclusion- your concluding paragraph should begin by echoing your major
thesis without repeating the words literally. It should broaden from the thesis
statement to answer the “so what?” question your reader may have after
reading your essay. Reflect on how your essay topic relates to the poem as a
whole. Evaluate how successful the author is in achieving his or her goal or
message. Give a personal statement about the topic. Connect back to your
creative opening. Give your opinion of the poem’s value or significance.
 Assessment: Poem Analysis
 
• Explain the biographical, linguistic and sociocultural contexts and discuss
how they enhance the text meaning and enrich your understanding of the
excerpt. You may write your analysis essay on a sheet of paper. Please be
guided with the questions below.
 
• 1. What language/s did the author use in the selection? Does it help you
understand the text's meaning?
• 2. Does the title suggest another meaning?
• 3. Does the selection tell you a story?
• 4. Does the text address an issue about gender, race and politics?
• 5. Does the poem reflect Filipino attitudes? 
 • CoŇotations (An Excerpt)

• Paolo Manalo

•  

• 1. I’m like tripping right now I have suitcase fever.

• 2. Dude, man, pare, three people can be the same.

• 3. Except he’s not who he says he is, pare. He’s sneeze like Chinese blood:

• Ha Ching!

• 4. Naman, it’s like our Tagalog accent, so they won’t think we’re all airs; so much weight it means
nothing naman.

• 5. Dude, man, pare, at the next stop we’ll make buwelta. So they can see we know how to look where we
came from.

• 6. It’s hirap kaya to find a connection. Who ba’spuwede to be our guide?

• 7. Dude, man, can you make this areglonaman?

• 8. Make it pabalot kaya in the mall. So they can’t guess what you’re thinking. That’s what I call a package
deal.
 RUBRIC FOR SCORING
Rubric for Poem Analysis Essay
Modified rubric from source:
https://laredo.instructure.com/courses/1330618/files/61449407/download?wrap=1

Criteria 10 points 7 points 4 points Total

Content Main points to be Three or more main Less than three  
argued are well stated. points are related but main points and
Supporting details are one may lack details /or poor
concrete development of
ideas.
Organization Logical progression of Clear organization but Ideas seem to be  
ideas with a clear one idea seems out of randomly
structure that place. arranged.
enhances the main
point
Mechanics The essay is free The essay has two or The essay has five  
three mechanics errors: or more
of mechanical errors:
mechanics errors:
capitalization, Punctuation, spelling, punctuation,
capitalization.
spelling, punctuation spelling,
capitalization.

Total Points