Contextual information is information beyond the specific words of a literary work that may be relevant to understanding the meaning. Contexts may be economic, social, cultural, historical, literary, biographical, etc.
For example, the political context of the Vietnam War and the attendant cultural unrest, the social context of homosexual relations, and the literary context of plays of the 70's, all have significant implications for understanding Lanford Wilson's Fifth of July.
With a play that has been performed over time, both the original historical context and the subsequent historical contexts may be important in determining what new or unique interpretations practitioners have applied to the play.
Workers in Johannesburg heading for apartheid township homes. Location: South Africa, Republic Of; Date taken: April 1960; Photographer: Grey Villet
The following newspaper and periodical resources can be used to find articles from a particular time period.
One thing to be aware of is that terms that we now use for historic events and time periods may not have been used at the time they occurred.
Use the library catalog to find books that will provide historical context. In addition to books that give you an overview of a historical period, a rich source of first-hand, historical observations are primary resources such as autobiographies, diaries, and journals.
The Gale Virtual Reference Library is an online collection of reference books (subject encyclopedias, dictionaries, etc) that can provide you with an overview of your topic.
It may also be useful to look at other fiction written during the time period or addressing the time period or subject, as well as other cultural productions such as music, film, or dance.