How does literature reflect the time in which it is written?

Answer 1

Literature can reflect the time in which it was written in several ways:

• expression: language is always evolving, so writing style can be typical of a particular period. This can apply to vocabulary, sentence construction and even spelling.
• themes and concerns: historical events, prevailing ideas, developments in science, ideas anout religion or politics, social conventions, all make up a writer's background, and are reflected in the sorts of subjects he chooses and the way he treats them. Thus you have the Romantic poets who were affected by the industrial revolution, and turned to nature, or Shakespeare's plays which are influenced by the renaissance.
• forms: certain forms or genres are typical of certain periods: tragedy and comedy in Elizabethan times, novels in the 18th and 19th century.

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Answer 2

Typically, literature mirrors the author's interpretation of their culture.

Answer 3

Literature reflects society by standing as a medium of politics (as was proven by the French in the Enlightenment) or entertainment and spreading pre-existing concepts of ideas. However, certain themes and trends in society are reflected in the style and conveyance of the literature. This is especially true when considering say Beowulf portraying Anglo-Saxon ethics and values of bravery and strength over beauty or intellect.

Literature can shape society by spreading new concepts, philosophy, criticisms, satire etc. This was especially true with the publishing of Karl Marx's (and Friedrich Engels's) Communist Manifesto in Russia. The creation of the Marxian theory was spread (via literature) to France and much of Europe where "Utopian Socialism" was created through a series of different philosophers' responses to Marx or Marxian ideals.

As you can see, it can represent pre-existing notions in a society. When innovative literature is created however, it can mold minds within the society, influence politics, etc...

Answer 4

Literature is first of all the epitome of a language's power, it is the maximum of its potential as a tool to make sense of the abstract. Each culture has its own language (or dialect) and so the literature is like a portrait of this culture. Inherent to a literary text is the cultural prism through which the author sees the world, and in studying this we can learn a great deal about the time and place that a piece of literature originated from. This is also why it is said that the best literature is the one that is well anchored in society and history.

Answer 5

Cultural context influences literature based on peoples way of living in a certain place. It can be used to change a bad society into a better life for the reader. It can change ones way of thinking and do many motivational things.

Answer 6

Literature lets you see how people lived and thought in that time period.

Answer 7

True. The reader's experience be considerably enhanced by conducting research on its historical and cultural context.

Answer 8

Anyhow. Sometimes 100%, sometimes not at all.

Answer 9

It can tell their history.

Answer 10

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