Historical Criticism

According to historicism, when you analyse a text, the place where you will find its meaning is in the life and times of the author, rather than in the mind and world of the reader, or even the text itself. It relates to context and, in some ways, purpose. The meaning of a text can be found in researching the author and his or her social and historical context. Who was this author? How did his or her life influence the work? Similarly, we can benefit by researching the social and historical context in which the text is set (if it happens to differ from that of the author): what was the time period of the text like? How does its setting influence meaning? If you want to read a text like a historicist, try to find out as much as you can about the author and his or her world, as well as that of the text. The little details matter, so leave no stone unturned.