Setting

The setting is the natural, manufactured, political, cultural and temporal environment including everything that characters know and own.

Three types of setting: private life, outdoors and historic/cultural circumstances.

Why do we use setting:

• Characters are deeply involved with their environments which causes much of their motivation and many of their possible conflicts which is created with how the characters respond/adjust to their setting.
• Authors use setting to create meaning just as painters include backgrounds and objects to render ideas.
• Setting establishes realism, more details the more believable.
• To create irony.

Framing/Enclosing Setting: when the author opens with a particular description and ends with the same setting.

Highlighted or emphasized materials in setting may count as symbols to the readers.

The tone of words used to describe the setting add atmosphere or mood. (Tone of descriptive words is developed with their connotation)