When you first approach a topic, it's a good idea to determine what's commonly known about the subject.  You can do this in a variety of ways:

• Use the readings from the course.
• Ask an expert (such as the professor).
• Look for forewords or introductions to the literary text you're planning to use.
• Check encyclopedias for summaries of an author's work, or their context.  Encyclopedias and dictionaries can provide summaries, quick definitions of unfamiliar terms, and recommended further reading.  Some possibilities are: