Setting Components of Mood Where the story takes

Setting

Components of Mood • Where the story takes place: geographical location. Where is the action of the story occurring? • When the story occurs: time - When is the story taking place? (historical period, time of day, year, etc)

Functions of Setting • Establish Mood • Shape Character • Contribute to Conflict

Establishing Mood • mood or atmosphere - What feeling is created at the beginning of the story? Is it bright and cheerful or dark and frightening?

Establishing Mood • Writer determines the mood he/she wishes to create • Plans a setting which will helps create this mood Example: Mood of terror can be better developed by selecting a setting which is dark, or isolated, or full of creepy things rather than selecting a cheerful setting like a child’s birthday party

Establishing Social Conditions • social conditions - What is the daily life of the character's like? Does the story contain local colour (writing that focuses on the speech, dress, mannerisms, customs, etc. of a particular place)?

Shaping Characters • Characters act and react to the environment in which they are placed • Behavior of a character which may be appropriate in a particular setting may not be appropriate in other settings. Example: The behaviors a character may present when lost in a wilderness would be different from behavior of the character when he/she is in the comfort of his/her own home

Contribute to Conflict Some story conflicts can only take place in specific settings. Examples: • Survival stories often need to take place in dangerous, remote, or foreign settings in order for the character to experience the problems he/she encounters

Realism & Setting • It is important that the setting of a story seem realistic • Two ways to create realistic setting: t Use realistic details—real places Example: a story set in New York City may use names of real streets and neighborhoods, and real landmarks t Use sensory details to vividly describe the setting so readers can imagine how the setting looks, smells, sounds, etc.

Multiple Settings • Longer or more complex stories may utilize multiple settings • Allows for greater plot variety—as setting changes, the problems facing the character may change

Conclusion • Setting is important because of the way it can influence the characters & plot of a story • Setting is also important because by contributing to the mood of the story, it can effect a reader’s reaction to a story.