Historical and Cultural Literature Literature and history cannot be separated from one another. Memorable events and people in history such as World War II, Martin Luther King Jr., and the Holocaust manage to inspire authors to create amazing works of literature

Why is the history important? If you have never heard of the Civil Rights Movement and then read a literary piece presenting characters dealing with the issue of segregation, you may not be able to understand all of the important issues and themes that it presents.

Common Themes Analyzing literature with historical context also gives you the opportunity to see common themes that emerge among literature, poetry, and art. For example, literature about the Civil Rights Movement would deal with equality, racism, and freedom to name just a few. If you are familiar with a time period, you are more likely to anticipate the themes and issues that will be presented in the literature.