Understanding the Author's Motive
1. Context is Key:
* Historical Context: What was happening in the world, the author's society, and the author's personal life at the time the work was written?
* Social and Political Context: What were the prevailing social and political beliefs of the time? How did these influence the author's perspective?
* The Author's Background: Who was the author? What was their profession, education, and social standing? How did their personal experiences and beliefs shape their writing?
2. Analyze the Text:
* Purpose and Audience: What was the author's main goal in writing? Who was the intended audience?
* Tone and Language: Does the author use emotional language, facts and data, or a mix of both? Is their tone objective or subjective?
* Arguments and Evidence: What claims does the author make? What evidence do they use to support their claims?
3. Identify Potential Motives:
* Inform: Did the author aim to share information or educate the reader?
* Persuade: Did the author seek to convince the reader of a particular viewpoint or to take action?
* Entertain: Was the author's primary goal to create a work of art, tell a story, or evoke emotion?
* Self-promotion: Did the author seek to advance their own career or reputation?
* Social change: Did the author aim to bring about social or political change?
4. Look for Clues:
* Direct Statements: The author may explicitly state their purpose or motive.
* Bias and Perspective: Pay attention to any biases or perspectives the author reveals.
* Word Choice: Look for words that suggest the author's intentions, feelings, or beliefs.
* Structure: How the text is organized can reveal the author's priorities.
5. Consider Multiple Possibilities:
It's important to remember that authors can have multiple motivations. It's rarely a simple case of just one reason.
Example:
If you're studying a pamphlet written by a 19th-century abolitionist, you might consider:
* Historical Context: The rise of the abolitionist movement and the prevalence of slavery.
* Social and Political Context: The debates surrounding slavery and the arguments for and against its abolition.
* Author's Background: The author's personal experiences with slavery or their involvement in abolitionist organizations.
* Purpose: To inform readers about the evils of slavery, to persuade them to support abolition, or to motivate them to action.
By considering all these factors, you can develop a more nuanced understanding of the author's motive and how it influences their work.