How Context Impacts the Plot

How does cultural context affect a story?

• Cultural context gives the time and place where the story occurs.

• Cultural context includes important historical events that occur around the same time as the story.

• Cultural context tells how the society's expectations and rules of conduct affect the characters in the story.

• Cultural context is not important to a story.

Which of these could be considered part of the social context of a book?

• The characters are having dinner together.

• The characters are all from England.

• 
  

  Students must wear uniforms at their school.

• The story was set during the Civil War.

Which of these could be considered part of the historical context of a book?

• The story is set during the mid 1800s while slavery is practiced.

• The characters are expected to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at their school.

• The story takes place in Mississippi.

• All women are expected to wear a dupatta head covering.

Why is it important to understand the context of a text?

• Context helps you remember important events in the plot of the story.

• Context helps the reader to more fully understand the meaning of a text.

• Context is the first thing you read in the text.

• Context is optional in understanding a text.

Mrs. Streett is reading a book that takes place during the Civil War. This is an example of what type of context?

• social context

• cultural context

• historical context

• political context

In Ghana, West Africa, Emmanuel was born disabled, and this was considered to be a curse. This is an example of what type of context?

• social context

• cultural context

• historical context

• political context

The students of Mrs. Ward's class are expected to be silent in class at all times. This is an example of what type of context?

• social context

• cultural context

• historical context

• political context

Which piece of evidence supports the cultural context of the story?

• "'Some people won't understand your hijab,' Mama had said. 'But if you understand who you are, one day they will too.'"

• "Henry Brown wasn't sure how old he was. Henry was a slave. And slaves weren't allowed to know their birthdays."

• "Mothers drive us to the start of an orchard where a hay wagon is waiting."

• "I imagined I was standing next to my father on a vast printing press floor, turning lead-type letters into words and sentences."

Which piece of evidence supports the historical context of the story?

• "Some slaves were freed by their owners. Henry's heart beat fast. Maybe the master would set him free."

• "At the bottom of the hill is a little crooked house made of wood. I wonder if a cow lives in it, or a goat."

• "Most people thought he would be useless, or worse--a curse."

• "The air was hot, heavy and damp. A loud clap of thunder shook the house, rattled the windows and made me grab her close."

Your test question states: How does the historical context influence the development of the plot? Use evidence from the text to support your response. What is your first step?

• Identify the setting.

• Cite evidence.

• Identify the development of the plot.

• Identify the historical context.