Why historians have to be careful while using literary sources?

Historians must be cautious when using literary sources because these works often reflect the author's personal biases, cultural context, and artistic intentions rather than objective facts. Literary texts can employ metaphor, symbolism, and exaggeration, which can distort historical realities. Additionally, the intended audience and genre can influence the portrayal of events or characters, making it essential for historians to critically analyze these sources to extract reliable historical information. Contextualizing the literature within its time period is crucial to avoid misinterpretation.