Creating Characters and Settings 3

Creating Setting

What is the setting?

The time and place where a story happens

•Knowing the setting helps you visualize the text.

•Allows you to form expectations

Ex: If it takes place in the 1700s, there are no cars.

How to Determine the Setting

•The narrator may tell you exactly when and where the story are taking place.

•Sometimes you may have to determine the setting based on clues.

If the exact date isn’t listed, it is good enough to say something like modern times, in the recent past, in the distant past, in the distant future, etc.

Determining the setting of a story

•The setting is the time and place.

•Look for clues as to where and when the story is happening if it isn’t clearly stated.

•Saying things like modern times, the recent past, the distant past will work if the date isn’t clearly stated.

Read the short extract below.

Absentmindedly staring out the window, it seemed like Jane was in a world of her own. The persistent drone of Miss Smith’s voice was nothing but a background track to whatever was consuming her thoughts.

Where is Jane?

What clues help you arrive at this?

How to Determine the Setting

•The narrator may tell you exactly when and where the story are taking place.

•Sometimes you may have to determine the setting based on clues.

•If the exact date isn’t listed, it is good enough to say something like modern times, in the recent past, in the distant past, in the distant future, etc.

Example:

Orlak pulled Gorth near the fire. He wrapped his arm around him and spoke from his heart, “Orlak need mammoth fur. Orlak too cold in cave.” Gorth grunted and looked around the cave walls. Gorth remembered what it was like sleeping in a cave before he had a mammoth fur. He spoke to Orlak, “Ok, Orlak. We get you fur.” A cold wind blew through the cave.

Where?

Clue:

When:

Clue:

Answers

Where? In a cave

Clue: They say it is too cold in the cave.

When: in the distant past

Clue: They are cavemen plotting to buy mammoth furs.

Determining setting

The setting of stories can sometimes be determined from the context. This means that even without explicitly mentioning the setting mentioning the setting, the reader is able to tell the setting from the actions.

Example: Kofi stood still, trying make out the different sounds coming from different directions. This was occasionally interrupted by the noise of dried leaves as he had to stamp his feet to deter crawling insects. Even though it was daytime, he had to squint to see ahead of him as there was a huge canopy of branches above him.

Read the extract on page 65 of your Hodder English Book.

Discuss the differences between the extract on page 65 and the one on page 62.

Open Ended

Look at the extract on page 65. The description of the room uses adjectives to give the reader a clear picture. How many can you find?

If you can find 10 - very good

If you can find 15 - very good

If you can find 20 - excellent

Look at the setting description below

The waves crashed gently along the sandy shore as the sun blazed down from above. Bathers in bright colours frolicked and laughed and splashed one another playfully.

The writer here has not mentioned the setting but we can determine the setting from what the characters are doing and the writer's description of the place.

Open Ended

Determine the setting of the extract below.

Enormous trees blocked the sky above. Only the sound of parrots squawking could be heard through the rush of falling rain. The humidity remained high, even after the storm ceased.

Open Ended

I pushed my squeaky metal cart down the long aisle. Cans and boxes of food lined both sides. Children begged their weary mothers for treats and sweets. A voice from above announced a sale on boiled ham.

Open Ended

Diamonds, rubbies, emeralds, and gold glittered inside the locked cabinet. A well-dressed woman smiled and asked if I wanted to view any of the merchandise. I pointed to an ornate ring in the front row. She took a set of keys from her pocket and opened the case.

Open Ended

The headstones were weathered and worn. I could barely decipher the names of the people people who lay beneath. Some fear this place, especially at night. However, i enjoy the peacefulness of earth, stone and eternal rest.

Where and When

Janet sliced the onion on the cutting board over the sink. As the fumes from the onion rose, her eyes began to water. She was listening to some popular jazz music on the radio when a voice broke in, "This just in! Pearl Harbor has been attacked! Much of the American naval fleet in the Pacific has been destroyed. Will this attack bring the U.S. into the Second World War? More details to follow." Janet dropped the knife and covered her mouth. She remembered the first war. She was just a child at the time but she could never forget the hardships.  

Answers

Where? Kitchen

Clue: The woman was chopping onion over the sink.

When? In the past, during Second World War

Clue: The radio talk about USA Pearl Harbour under attack and how there is Second World War