Understanding Historic Context Is Key to Analysis and Interpretation

We cannot fully appreciate or understand a work of literature without context.

Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" cannot be fully understood if the reader is unaware of the Romantic movement in the early 19th century. The lives of Europeans were transformed by the technological disruptions of the Industrial Age. The Romantics captured the public's sense of isolation and fear that many experienced. Knowing this backdrop changes "Frankenstein" into an allegory for how technology can destroy us.

• Scholars and educators rely on historical context to analyze and interpret art, literature, music, dance, and poetry.
• Architects and builders refer to it when restoring existing buildings.
• Judges may use it to interpret the law.