The Historical Context of the Time

Context refers to the details which assist the message's literary text that generates sense. Louise Erdrich Fleur's stories can be interpreted based on the variability of the author's contextual factors to the reader. Some of the contexts can be stated, while some need a keen reading of the literary work before getting how the writer has applied it to the writing. Phrases such as ‘the first words I ever read’ brings the reader to speed with the author’s experience and keenly ensures that the reader takes in the author’s journey as a writer. More so, the author's context can help the reader develop their own context in the long run (Erdrich 1). This is because a reader's current social and traditional context can impact the reading as it helps shape interpretation into the reader's reality. Additionally, one of the things that helps Fleur's reading develop interest is how he develops historical context to fit into the literary preference. For instance, in the first passage, he first lays the ground by introducing the convict and his lover to the audience hence setting the stage for all other information that he will explain later. After giving details of the story's characters, he ensures that he describes other details in line with information given first to bring out a full picture of the passage of the characters involved in the passage.

 Also, a passage's historical context is intertwined in a similar text's social context because the underpinning norms and conventions are historically specified in the passage. The historical context is vital because the reader can note the changes that take place based on the story's timeline (Erdrich 3). Hence, the text's historical context helps the reader understand the activities taking place and factors that cause this particular occurrence to ensue. For example, Fleur applies descriptive words to ensure that all coupled with the historical context ‘she drowned in the cold and glass waters of Lake Fleur.' As noted earlier, the reading context helps to put in place or lay the ground for the literacy devices used in that particular context. More so, the choice of words used after a historical description drives the story and helps the reader navigate the story while helping him or her takes note of the characters' actions. Thus, the historical context prepares the reader for the conceptual context of the reader. The sharing of certain ideas only depends on the historical context mentioned at the beginning of the text as it encourages the writer to follow a certain direction (Erdrich 5). For instance, the author claims that unless one is from Fleur Pillage, all the people knew that she could not swim. The factual basis of the text relies on the historical context of the passage. The author has to rely on factual information to build up the story and reveal to the reader the underlying reasons for not swimming. Therefore historical context helps to build up the reader's context about the narrative; hence the reader has no choice to interpret the story based on the author's plot. Thus, at end of the reading one is able to see how the writer makes use of historical context to create a full background story which is later used to unravel the story.

 

 

Work cited

Erdrich Louise. Summer Reading, August 1198, 2020