Setting

When and where

a story takes place
As the place of fiction, setting is generally a
physical locale that shapes a story's
mood, its emotional aura or quality.
Real or imaginary, concrete or symbolic, a
moment or an eternity, setting is the
dramatic backdrop for a story.
Why is Setting Important?
Setting is important because...
Setting reveals
prevailing atmosphere or mood
Time and place affect the outcome of the story.
setting shows internal and external conflicts
Setting is important because...
setting can determine the fate of the protagonist
setting reflects character and often embodies
theme.
Setting is important because...

Victor Frankenstein
does all of his
experiments in a
solitary chamber, or
rather a cell, at the
top of the house, and
separated from all
the other apartments
by a staircase

we might
conclude that there
is something
anti-social,
isolated, and stale,
maybe even
unnatural, about
his project and his
way of learning.

How does Setting function in literature?
Roles of Setting:
as a mirror to
reflect what is
going on inside the
characters




as a mold to
shape the
characters into who
they are
may also act...
as a challenge providing a test for the
character to reveal his or her true self

as an alien setting that creates a sense of
exile and loss
as an escape which allows more
whimsical and fantastic parts of
the character to be expressed.
may also act...
An external force
may enter the setting
and change it,
causing conflict for
the characters.

may also act...
As an antagonist, causing
conflict with the main character
Two settings may also come into conflict with each
other, causing conflict in the characters who must live
in them and perhaps have to choose between them.
Types of Setting
Setting
Setting
Setting
Setting

Types of Setting
Time of day
Season
Weather / Temperature
Indoors/Outdoors


Type of room/building
Objects
Colors
Imagery5 senses


Types of Setting
Setting
Location, including
country (J apan, Mexico, Scotland)
region (north/south, upper/lower end)
state / city
neighborhood
street
floor/level (basement, attic etc...)
urban / rural / suburban

Types of Setting
Cultural Setting:
the values, ideals, and attitudes of a place
Physical Cultural Setting

&

Non-Physical Cultural Setting
Physical Cultural Setting:
Dialogue
Clothing
Iconography
Routines
Decoration

All of these factors
establish the physical
cultural setting
Non-physical cultural setting:
Education
Social standing
Economic class
Religious belief

These factors
establish the non-
physical cultural
setting

Types of Setting
Setting
Time period/Year Reign of a leader or President

Role of government Major historical events
These historical factors can establish a
psychological or sociological understanding
of behaviors and attitudes.
Setting
More Historical factors:
Transportation
Crop yield
Epidemics
Wars
Economy
Natural disasters


This can be used to provide
suspense or create certain moods
or feelingstime is also an
important literary symbol.
The seasons or a span of time
associated with a particular activity
may be important as a symbol.


"Every story would be
another story, and
unrecognizable if it
took up its characters
and plot and happened
somewhere else...

--Eudora Welty
End of presentation.