Setting and Mood: How They Can Shape a Character

Setting and Mood: How They Can Shape a Character

We'll be looking at the impact of setting and mood on character. To do this we need to:

• ​Think about the physical characteristics of a setting (think where it is taking place and when).

• ​Think about the mood or atmosphere (How it feels).

Multiple Choice

Talk to your table mates for a moment about this question, then choose an answer: Can the mood of a place greatly affect how a person reacts?

• Yes, the mood of a place can definitely affect how a person acts.

• No way. People have certain character traits and you can always expect them to act a certain way.

• Maybe, it depends on a lot of things.

Poll

This doesn't sound like a typical gym class, does it. Which picture fits what it sounds like better? 

Open Ended

Ah, yes. Character traits. It is how we get to know characters. Will was once just a nice, quiet kid wanting popular friends, but now he is in middle school.

So think about what you just read. How are they acting? Why is Will acting this way?

​Let's reread that text again, and think: How would you describe the atmosphere of that gym?

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Just like thinking about character traits, see if you can come up with traits for this gym as you reread the text.

Multiple Select

What do you think? How would you describe the mood in that gym? Discuss with your partner and choose.

• Nasty

• Competitive

• Intimidating

• Scary

Poll

Will's "friend," Kevin, has basically told him he is a loser. Do you agree with how Will reacts?

• Yes, because it leaves Kevin wondering if he is right.

• No, because Will should have said, "If you can't support me, you really aren't my friend."

• Maybe Will should have listened to Kevin. Maybe Kevin was trying to tell Will to back out.

Multiple Select

In the last two slides, there are details that emphasize just how this setting is making will feel at this moment.

• "Superior"

• "hey, buddy"

• "real fight, with real fists"

• "I smiled and nodded"

• "jigs were up"

Fill in the Blank

I think we can agree, Will is acting foolish and like he is better than the others, superior. Which, in light of the situation, is it the smartest thing to do? Have you ever been in a situation when you had to act a certain way even if you don't feel that way inside?

What line in the text help us understand how Will feels?

​And that is where we end. We'll pick up the story again. Soon.

​But our theories were confirmed. This setting is working to create an environment where Will is going to have to be pretty tough to survive.

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​Look for those clues and write them down as your read. Make those theories. Confirm for yourself how much a setting can affect how a character acts.