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Exploring Historical and Biographical Analysis: Workshop Insights with Cammy Sray and Alexa Winik

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Join Cammy Sray and Alexa Winik for an engaging workshop focused on historical and biographical analysis in literary texts. Learn to situate texts within their contextual frameworks, using authorial intent and historical events to deepen your interpretation. This workshop will guide you through the differences between New Critical approaches and historical/biographical analysis. Gain practical strategies for creating thesis statements, integrating context into your arguments, and effectively using literary devices. Discover how to enhance your writing and analysis skills.

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Exploring Historical and Biographical Analysis: Workshop Insights with Cammy Sray and Alexa Winik

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  1. Historical/ Biographical Analysis WORKSHOP WITH CAMMY SRAY & ALEXA WINIK

  2. Hist./Bio. Analysis– What Is It? • Situating the Text: Using the context surrounding a text to create a “lens” to interpret that text. • Context—event in author’s life or historical event/trend that occurred around time of text • Context—not information that the text itself provides (though it may allude to) • Using the context to inform your reading of a text

  3. Difference from New Critical? • New Critical: text  interpret • In a NC analysis, you start and end with the text--no outside research/pulling from context. • Hist/Biographical: context  lens  text interpret • Pull from the context to shed light on your reading • Context supplements your understanding of the text

  4. Historical Analysis • Set up your paper to analyze what historical event/trend the author had in mind that he/she viewed as significant • Intro: general tension and thesis • Body: • 1) prove that this historical event/trend actually occurred and was prevalent in author’s mind when he/she wrote text • 2) prove that the event/trend was significant to the author • *especially important if the author is addressing an era/event that did not occur around the same time author wrote text. • *use: autobiography, biography, newspapers, letters, correspondences, etc. • 3) Use devices to support thesis (Like a NC analysis, but apply/integrate the context) • Conclusion

  5. Biographical Analysis • Explain the text as a way the author tried to deal with a personal issue. • Intro: general tension and thesis • Body: • 1) Background: prove an issue bothered author significantly at/near time he/she wrote text • *use: autobiography, biography, newspapers, letters, correspondences, etc. • 2.) Text: use devices to support thesis (like NC), but apply/integrate the context • Conclusion

  6. Let’s situate… • Read “Reunion” • Look for prevalent literary devices (as you would for a NC analysis). • Use your background knowledge to shed light on how the devices function within the story • Develop some foundational themes

  7. Thesis time! • Don’t forget tenets of thesis: • interpretive/argumentative • specific/precise • accurate • deep Include in your thesis how the author is commenting on A (the relevant element of the context) by using B (literary device) to say C (the message of the text)

  8. Wrapping Up... • Texts exist in some framework of history • Know the framework! • Ask • 1) “What’s happening at this time?” • 2) “What is author saying about it?” • Hist./Biog. Criticism involves authorial intent more than any other criticism • Criticisms are distinct, but related

  9. Wrapping Up... • Like any other criticism...ALWAYS go back to the text to prove your thesis! • Move from contexttext • context  lens  text interpret • This is not a historical research paper • Don’t backseat the textual interpretation!

  10. Final Tips... • Remember: Writing style and grammar count. Hugely. • Write OUTLINES or POST-OUTLINES. • Write MULTIPLE rough drafts. • Be clear. Be fluent. • Use strong, precise verbs in active voice • Be specific as you discuss the historical context. • Be specific as you connect the historical context to the text itself. • Conclusion • Stress importance of the work in relation to historical event/issue

  11. Remember… Literary texts are not created in a vacuum!!!

  12. And … You’re not alone. The writing center is here!  Hours: MWF 1-5 p.m.; T/TH 12:30-5 p.m. M-TH 7-11 p.m. (Yes, we’re open evenings!) Workshop Information Posted Online Here: http://www.cedarville.edu/Offices/Writing-Center/Workshop-Information.aspx

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