1. Context – Macbeth, A Christmas Carol, Blood Brothers and Poetry

2. What does the exam board say?

3. Researching context Types of context: Historical Social Authorial
Audience
Genre
Revise the key contextual factors and come up with direct links to the text.

4. Macbeth Hubris + Tragic Hero James I Attitudes to Witchcraft
Contextual factor
Link to the play
Hubris + Tragic Hero
James I
Attitudes to Witchcraft
Feminism + Women’s rights
The divine rights of kings + Chain of being
The real ‘Banquo’ and ‘Macbeth’.
The genre – Blood and Violence

5. Context Revision Cards
Types of context:
Historical
Social
Authorial
Audience
Genre
On one side of the card write the context factor, on the other side write down the definition and the link.
Genre
Hubris +
Tragic Hero
Hubris – excessive pride – Macbeth’s failure to surrender in Act 5
Tragic Hero – A character destined for downfall – Macbeth after he meets the Witches.

6. Revision Homework Types of context: Historical Social Authorial
Audience
Genre
Do the same for your other LIT texts.

7. History & Macbeth
Macdonwald’s rebellion & the invasion of Sweno took place at different times—Shakespeare combined them
Duncan is supposed to have been killed by four hired servants— Shakespeare has Macbeth commit the murder
History represents Banquo as equal in guilt with Macbeth— Shakespeare whitewashes Banquo’s character as a compliment to King James
History makes no mention of Lady Macbeth—her character is almost wholly the creation of Shakespeare
In history, Macbeth fled before Macduff— Shakespeare shows Macbeth bravely fighting
Used Raphael Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland, & Ireland as historical reference for his plays

8. A Christmas Carol Contextual factor Link to the play
Attitudes towards Christmas in and now.
The Poor Laws
Victorian London – what was it like?
Workhouses
Social Welfare in 1843
The industrial revolution
The Genre – use of ghosts
Dickens’ background

10. How to Link

11. Margaret Thatcher
Marilyn Monroe
Liverpool
Unemployment
What was the unemployment rate under the Thatcher government?
What caused unemployment during this time?
What did you do if you were unemployed?
Who was she?
What she like as a leader?
Was she popular?
What political decisions is she remembered for?
Who was she?
What was she renowned for?
How did she die?
Why did she die?
What is a Scouser?
What is Liverpool known for?
What are stereotypical views on Liverpool?
Blood Brothers
Superstition
Willy Russell
Closure of industry
Find examples of superstitions.
Where do they come from?
Why do people believe in them?
Why are they dangerous?
Where is he from?
How did he do at school?
What jobs did he have?
What else did he write?
What was his inspiration for Blood Brothers?
What was Britain’s main industry during the 1960s/1970s?
Why did British industry start to decline?
What effect did this decline have on people?

12. Poetry Poem Ozymandias London The Prelude My Last Duchess
Charge of the LB
Exposure
Storm on the Island
Bayonet Charge
Remains
Poppies
War Photographer
Tissue
Emigree
Checking out Me History
Kamikaze
Contextual factor

13. Literature Mocks – How to link
Now look back through your last two literature mocks. Where can you make a contextual link? How can you make sure it is properly explained? The Good “This alludes to… The Bad “The contextual link for this is…