1. Spark English 28th January Dubai Teaching Students to Analyse Context
Gregory Anderson
DESC

2. What do I want us to think about?
What is the context of teaching context?
How have I seen the teaching of context progress?
What is a fundamental way to integrate context in a fashion that is interpretatively powerful?

3. Starting point… New Criticism
New criticism vs Cultural Materialism…
Attraction of decontextualised readings
‘alternative facts’…

4. What has been my progression in teaching context?
Included in introduction
Added after language analysis
Comparison between contemporary reading and contextualised

5. ‘Analysing’ Context in the Introduction
What is the most generic sentence in the history of students analysing Romeo and Juliet?

6. The most common sentence to begin any essay on Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet was written by William Shakespeare in 1595.

7. A more sophisticated introduction © Gale
Shakespearean England was deeply enmeshed in a political and religious power struggle that resembled conditions in Italy 250 years before. Both societies, scarred by tragedy, subscribed to the philosophy that Fortune—both good and bad—is part of life and, along with God, controls human destiny.

8. Context as a bolt on after analysis

9. Context as a bolt on after analysis
Romeo and Juliet’s first kiss highlights how their relationship is built on a mutual attraction. Upon kissing, Juliet exclaims that Romeo kisses ‘by th’ book’. This mundane image suggests that perhaps Romeo’s wooing is somewhat scripted, and perhaps even clichéd.

10. Context as a bolt on after analysis
This mundane image suggests that perhaps Romeo’s wooing is somewhat scripted, and perhaps even clichéd. An Elizabethan audience would perhaps recognise an element of formality in courtship, and would therefore like this image.

11. Comparative Context Analysis
Contemporary interpretation first (even based on connotations)…
…then the past contextual interpretation.

12. Comparative Context Analysis
A contemporary audience would see a scripted moment of affection as awkward, and perhaps even reprehensible.

13. Comparative Contextual Analysis
A contemporary audience would see a scripted moment of affection as awkward, and perhaps even reprehensible. A more enlightened reading would perhaps recognise the attraction of formality in courtship for the Elizabethans, and could therefore see this kiss as actually meeting Juliet’s expectations for romance.

14. Summarising for Students
Compare a contemporary and a contextualised interpretation.
Compare after language analysis.
Use modality (could/perhaps).
Use sparingly and judiciously.