Understanding setting
The setting of a text is the place and time used within the text. This may be:
- real or fictional (made-up)
- a specific geographical location - such as a named city or country
- a type of place or event - like a school or a wedding
Setting is a crucial part of a how a text achieves its effect. It can echo the themes of the The sequence of events in a plot; a story.. For example, Of Mice and Men opens in a place called Soledad, which means loneliness – a key theme of the book.
The time of day or year when a text is set also adds to its effect. For example, a school at night is a very different place to a school during the day. A ghost story would probably work better at night.
Wider historical context is important too. A text that is set during a war might suggest that the story is big and important. Or perhaps the story is a small-scale human one, contrasting with the backdrop of war. This could suggest the importance of love or friendship, even when world events are huge and destructive.