How do I effectively incorporate context into my essay?

Context is a key part of any essay. You not only have to consider the historical context of the author, of when the story was set but also the literary context and the context of production and reception. Despite there being a lot of context to consider you must not be tempted to cram it all into the introduction. You must only include a piece of context if it is relevant to what you're saying. The introduction is a good place to include any of the key general context (such as when the text was written and the genre: Gothic classic, fiction, fantasy etc.) which will help to introduce the reader to your essay. However the key is to produce a wholesome essay. Therefore, a very good way to incorporate your context is in your analysis and evaluation. For example, if your essay is focusing on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and you are focusing on characterisation you could say: 'Frankenstein and his monster are parallel characters and neither can be considered more good or bad than the other. This can be seen through the repetition in the text. Frankenstein in Chapter VIII Frankenstein says "I bore a hell within me" which is later echoed by the monster in Chapter XVI "I, like the arch-fiend, bore a hell within me". This repetition not only shows them as parallel characters, but also links them to the character of Satan in Milton's 'Paradise Lost' where the quote is echoed and through the connotations of the noun "hell". This link to Satan, who is known as an inherently evil character, also shows the reader that that Frankenstein and the monster as well as being parallels of each other are malignant characters. Here by referring to both Milton's 'Paradise Lost' and the influence on the reader, I have covered literary context as well as the context of reception while tying them into my analysis. As I have mentioned before the relevant context is very useful to use as a way to help you make your point and it is something you will be rewarded for in an exam as well as in coursework.