What is meant by Setting in a story?

Table of Contents


Setting


Setting refers to the place and time where the events take place. Setting in a narrative always involves two things: time and place. In some stories, the setting is plainly stated for the reader; in others, we have to use clues to make an educated guess about the time/or place of the story.

Time

Time can refer to โ€œtime of dayโ€ or โ€œhistoricalโ€ โ€œThe time during which the storey takes place may be different from the period in which the author has lived. Knowing a bit of historical context generally helps to understand the storey; it can explain, for example, why characters behave in a certain way. Morals and attitudes change over time. In contrast, science fiction stories are set in the future; thus, the author is absolutely free to construct information from his/her imagination.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Daffodils Critical Appreciation In ...
Daffodils Critical Appreciation In 500 Words

Place

The place where the storey is set can be clearly defined. If not, in writing, you must use the hints to decide where the action is taking place. The activity may be limited to one places or may include a number of places. If a writer uses details of a certain geographical region to make the story sound real, he/she is using local colour. Such details include dialect (an accent or a manner of speaking in a specific region); clothing; food; landscape; ways of thinking and feeling (beliefs); customs; pastimes; or occupations. The place is crucial in these stories, because we are all influenced in both good and bad ways by our surroundings.

In order to decide where the storey is set, if it isnโ€™t, Indicated, use hints such as landscape details, local customs, dialect (speech patterns of a certain region). Itโ€™s rare to have a few settings in a short story because of its small length.

Every storey has a setting, and it may or may not play a significant role in the story. If the setting is not important, it is often implied (not directly stated) through details. To suggest a city, there would be details such as traffic noise, sirens, and descriptions of the skyscrapers. A rural setting would involve a lot of green space, rivers and lakes, or peace and quiet. If it is important to know that a storey is going on in New York City or in rural Saskatchewan, it is more likely to be told directly. In such situations, the place can play a crucial role in the creation of the narration or in the lives of the characters.

1 thought on โ€œWhat is meant by Setting in a story?โ€

Leave a Reply to Characteristics of a Short Story - Smart English NotesCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Discover more from Smart English Notes

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading