A historical analysis takes a literary work and places it in its original period of time, analysing and comparing the work to historical events, mentality, society’s rules, scientific and geographical discoveries etc. that were happening at the time of writing.

This type of analysis helps the reader to better understand why a plot panned out the way it did, or a character’s behaviour and interaction was portrayed in a certain way.

To do a historical analysis you must research the specific time period, focusing especially on the elements you know are included in the literary work. If a story is set during war time, for example, don’t only look into the war events, but study the personalities of the people leading the operations as well; take into consideration weather elements and how that would affect the poor life quality everyone would be living: if it's cold, is there frostbite and lack of food? If it's tropical, what was the insect situation? Were soldiers not only plagued by bugs but also got illnesses due to bites? If it's hot, what was the drinking water situation, what were people doing to stay alive? And what was being done with the dead bodies?

Try to find the why to the situation as well as the straight forward facts that a particular war was being fought, and soldiers were sent from all over to fight. Think about the consequences that are presented, and how they are shown when these people were away from their everyday homes and lives.

Also, you must take into consideration authors who set their works in a time gone by, even if only a few decades earlier. They primarily do this to: explain the present; see the idea from start to finish; be able to criticize the present without censorship; or for escapism. In this case, you would have to study both the original movement and why authors resorted to this method (if it were common), and the period they set the work in.

Research tools available to place yourself in the desired historical context include:

• Reading history books and biographies, online essays and blogs, notes from class, published articles and essays.
• Watching documentaries and films, You Tube and social media videos.
• Going to museums and libraries, looking at letters, diaries, and speeches, maps and timelines, photographs and drawings, public records.
• Visiting old architecture and monuments, antique fairs and shops.
• and if events are more recent, you may even be able to ask a family member!