How do I integrate context into my analysis to get extra marks?

The first step in using context in your exam essays is research. Search for statistics and facts relating to the author or the time period and geographical place the book was set and/or written in. Once you have a number of examples, categorise them into themes, such as "Women" or "Economics". By doing this, you make it easier for yourself to connect context to your analysis because whenever you deal with a quotation related to these themes, you automatically have context available to use. Some people find it difficult to make the transition from analysing quotations to talking about the context, and the important thing is to find a link. For example, in Jane Austen's novel 'Persuasion', there is a quotation that reads: "The child was to be kept in bed and amused as quietly as possible; but what was there for a father to do? This was quite a female case, and it would be highly absurd in him, who could be of no use at home, to shut himself up." If you have facts about gender dynamics in Austen's period, you can easily take the phrase "a female case" and explain it using this context. The key is to find specific words within a quotation that can be explained using context.