Final answer:
Mary Shelley is primarily recognized as an influential figure in the Romantic literary movement, particularly known for her masterpiece 'Frankenstein.'
Step-by-step explanation:
Mary Shelley is best described within her literary and historical context as an influential figure in the Romantic literary movement. Daughter of the pioneering feminist Mary Wollstonecraft and the philosopher William Godwin, Mary Shelley's life and works are closely aligned with the ideals of Romanticism. Along with her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley, she was deeply involved with the circle of Romantic poets and embodied the era's attributes with her own masterpiece, Frankenstein. Her contributions to literature, through Frankenstein and other works, have earned her a distinguished place in English literary history, not only for the novel's imaginative prowess but also for its profound engagement with the social, scientific, and ethical questions of her time.