Biographical and Historical analysis is a staple of any critical analysis. It is vital for most papers that you understand the period in which a text was written and the background of the author.
This kind of research is very specific to your topic, but here are some sources to get you started in the right direction!
American Literature, American Culture by 
Journey Through Despair, 1880-1914: Transformations in British Literary Culture by 
Oxford Encyclopedia of British Literature by 
