The main purpose of a setting in The main purpose of a setting in our writing is to establish a our writing is to establish a timetime and and placeplace. .

Each scene in a story has one Each scene in a story has one setting. When the setting changes, setting. When the setting changes, the scene changes.the scene changes.

What is Setting?

““I went down that way on my way to I went down that way on my way to school one spring morning. It was out of my school one spring morning. It was out of my way but I wanted to see if Walter was there.”way but I wanted to see if Walter was there.”

Excerpt from “Stolen Day” Excerpt from “Stolen Day”

Author- Sherwood AndersonAuthor- Sherwood Anderson

Can you find the time and place?Can you find the time and place?

““I went down that way I went down that way on my way to school one on my way to school one spring morning.spring morning. It was out of my way but I It was out of my way but I wanted to see if Walter was there.”wanted to see if Walter was there.”

A really great setting also accomplishes the A really great setting also accomplishes the following things:following things:

It creates a It creates a moodmood through the use of through the use of sensory sensory imagesimages (these are descriptions that make us (these are descriptions that make us see, hear, smell, taste, or touch something in see, hear, smell, taste, or touch something in our minds) and use of details.our minds) and use of details.

““Lewis Raycie was up the next morning before Lewis Raycie was up the next morning before sunrise. sunrise.

Unlatching his shutters without noise, he Unlatching his shutters without noise, he looked forward over the wet lawn merged in a blur of looked forward over the wet lawn merged in a blur of shrubberies, and the waters of the Sound dimly seen shrubberies, and the waters of the Sound dimly seen beneath a sky full of stars.”beneath a sky full of stars.”

Excerpt from “False Dawn”Excerpt from “False Dawn”Author- Edith WhartonAuthor- Edith Wharton

Can you see, hear, taste, touch, or feel something in Can you see, hear, taste, touch, or feel something in your mind? What words help you to imagine?your mind? What words help you to imagine?

““Lewis Raycie was up the next morning Lewis Raycie was up the next morning before sunrise.before sunrise.

Unlatching his shutters without noiseUnlatching his shutters without noise, he , he looked forward over the looked forward over the wet lawn merged in a wet lawn merged in a blur of shrubberies,blur of shrubberies, and the and the waters of the waters of the SoundSound dimly seen beneath dimly seen beneath a sky full of stars.”a sky full of stars.”

What is the What is the moodmood? In other words, what ? In other words, what emotion does this make you feel?emotion does this make you feel?

A strong settingA strong setting puts the characters into the puts the characters into the contextcontext of the story of the story

““The crevasse was about six feet wide at The crevasse was about six feet wide at the top and narrowed gradually as it went the top and narrowed gradually as it went down. But how deep it was, Rudi could not down. But how deep it was, Rudi could not tell. After a few feet the blue walls of ice tell. After a few feet the blue walls of ice curved away at a sharp slant, and what was curved away at a sharp slant, and what was below the curve was hidden from sight.”below the curve was hidden from sight.”

Excerpt from “A Boy and A Man”Excerpt from “A Boy and A Man”

Author- James Ramsey UllmanAuthor- James Ramsey Ullman

Where is the character? How does he fit into the storyWhere is the character? How does he fit into the story??

A strong setting often A strong setting often gives us a hint of gives us a hint of upcoming conflictupcoming conflict in the story. This could be in the story. This could be something as big as “the boom of a cannon something as big as “the boom of a cannon explosion” in a war or as small as “the cruel explosion” in a war or as small as “the cruel arch of an eyebrow.” arch of an eyebrow.”

““Below them the town was laid out in Below them the town was laid out in harsh angular patterns. The houses in the harsh angular patterns. The houses in the outskirts were all exactly alike, small square outskirts were all exactly alike, small square boxes painted gray. Each had a small boxes painted gray. Each had a small rectangular plot of lawn in front, with a rectangular plot of lawn in front, with a straight line of dull looking flowers edging the straight line of dull looking flowers edging the path to the door.”path to the door.”

Excerpt from “A Wrinkle in Time”Excerpt from “A Wrinkle in Time”Author- Madeleine L’EngleAuthor- Madeleine L’Engle

Do you feel like some sort of problem (conflict) might Do you feel like some sort of problem (conflict) might happen? Why?happen? Why?

Settings Settings usually occur at the beginning of a usually occur at the beginning of a scenescene, but details and description are often , but details and description are often revisited throughout the scene and are a revisited throughout the scene and are a cohesive thread.cohesive thread.

Each time there is a new setting, it is a new Each time there is a new setting, it is a new scene in the story.scene in the story.

Just rememberJust remember

A story’s setting is very important to make the A story’s setting is very important to make the plot believable- details is needed to make the plot believable- details is needed to make the picture come alive.picture come alive.

Do not assume that the reader can see through Do not assume that the reader can see through your eyes- give as much details as you can your eyes- give as much details as you can about the setting. about the setting.

Your job now is…Your job now is…

Create 4 detailed settings for your character and story. Create 4 detailed settings for your character and story. Describe each setting with words and phrases, giving as much Describe each setting with words and phrases, giving as much

details as possible.details as possible. Give more than a time and place- describe these places with Give more than a time and place- describe these places with

the idea that your character will have some kind of conflict in the idea that your character will have some kind of conflict in one of them.one of them.

Use your details to create your intended mood.Use your details to create your intended mood. Keep all of this information in your folder with your other Keep all of this information in your folder with your other

story parts.story parts.