Context
What types of context does setting analysis cover?
Historical, Geographical, Physical, Social
Does setting always have an important influence on the story?
No.
Name the forms that the settings may take. (At least 3)
Alternate history/ future history, imaginary/fantasy world, dystopia/utopia, fictional country/universe, mythical place, other worlds/parallel universe, simulated/virtual reality.
State the main functions of the setting.
Setting as metaphor and as atmosphere.
A story world or milieu including a context beyond the immediate surroundings of the story
Setting
Name the type of the context which lets the reader know about the political, economic and cultural environment that surrounds the story?
Historical context.
What is the difference between integral and backdrop settings?
Integral is essential to the plot and backdrop is relatively unimportant to the plot.
An imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect.
Utopia.
The setting projects the internal state of the characters or a pervasive spiritual atmosphere.
Setting as metaphor.
Name the elements of setting
Culture, historical period, geography, hour, occupation and lifestyle of characters, religious, intellectual and moral environment.
What can the geographical context provide?
It can provide the reader with clues about the story's theme and can act as foreshadowing?
What type of setting may take on the role of a character?
Dynamic setting
World conceived of as coexisting with and having certain similiarities to the known world but different from it in some fundamental way.
Parallel universe.
Define setting as atmosphere.
A mood or emotional aura that helps to establish the reader's expectations.
What are the basic sub-units of the plot?
Scenes.
Differentiate the physical and social context.
Physical context includes elements like the weather, the time of day and whether or not the story's setting is outdoors or indoors. Social is a product of time and place.
Describe the neutral and spiritual settings.
In neutral only the place of the action is important. In spiritual the values embodied in the physical setting.
What is the diffference between fantasy and fictional world?
Fantasy usually involves a mystical base, i.e. magical, mythical or supernatural, imagined worlds, while fiction makes use of an analytical, scientific discourse and focuses on technology.
What setting as metaphor can do?
Clarify conflict, illuminate character, affect the mood and act as a symbol.
What is the difference between the setting in classical and romantic stories?
In classical the setting is usually sketched in broadly, in romantic, there is a greater attention to details.
What type of the context does Orwell specify in this paragraph?
It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. Winston Smith, his chin nuzzled into his breast in an effort to escape the vile wind, slipped quickly through the glass doors of Victory Mansions, though not quickly enough to prevent a swirl of gritty dust from entering along with him.
Physical (Time of day)
What type of setting is represented?
The public-houses, with gas-lights burning inside, were already open. By degrees, other shops began to be unclosed, and a few scattered people were met with. Then, came straggling groups of labourers going to their work; then, men and women with fish-baskets on their heads; donkey-carts laden with vegetables; chaise-carts filled with livestock or whole carcasses of meat; milk-women with pails; an unbroken concourse of people trudging out with various supplies to the eastern suburbs of the town. As they approached the City, the noise and traffic gradually increased; when they threaded the streets between Shoreditch and Smithfield, it had swelled into a roar of sound and bustle.
Integral setting.
State the form of the setting.
At first, I couldn’t understand why the media was making such a big deal of the billionaire’s death. After all, the people of Planet Earth had other concerns. The ongoing energy crisis. Catastrophic climate change. Widespread famine, poverty, and disease. Half a dozen wars. You know: “dogs and cats living together … mass hysteria!”
Dystopia.
Is there any connection between the setting and the theme? If yes, specify.
The setting can support or advance the theme.
In what roles can setting be considered a plot device?
When the setting becomes the character itself