Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Personal factors refer to an author's individual experiences, perspectives, and background that influence their writing style, themes, and character development in a literary work.
Related terms
Authorial Intent: Authorial intent refers to the author's purpose or message behind writing a particular piece of literature. It is influenced by the author's personal factors.
Biographical Context: Biographical context involves examining an author's life events and experiences to gain insights into their literary works. It helps understand how personal factors shape the themes and characters.
Psychological Influences: Psychological influences explore how an author's thoughts, emotions, and subconscious mind impact their writing. These influences can be seen through symbolism, motifs, or character development in literature.