This Area of Exploration focuses on the idea that literary texts are not created or received in isolation. Students explore the cultural contexts in which literature is written and read, as well as the ways literature can reflect, represent, or challenge the world around it.

You’ll consider how cultural conditions influence the production of literature and how culture and identity can influence the way a text is received. This may involve considering an author’s biography, historical events, cultural background, or critical responses to a work. However, context should not simply be used as a one-way explanation of a literary text. The focus remains on the ideas and issues raised by the literary work itself and on whether contextual knowledge provides a more informed understanding of those ideas.

In this area, you will explore key questions such as:

• How important is cultural or historical context to the production and reception of a literary text?
• How do we approach texts from times and cultures different from our own?
• To what extent can literature offer insight into another culture?
• How does the meaning and impact of a literary text change over time?
• How do literary texts reflect, represent, or form part of cultural practices?
• How does language represent social distinctions and identities?