Glossary
Character Development (influenced by setting)
How a character's personality, actions, and growth are shaped or constrained by their environment, leading to internal or external changes.
Example:
The harsh, unforgiving frontier character development in True Grit forces Mattie Ross to become resilient and determined beyond her years.
Demographics (in setting)
Characteristics of the population within a story's setting, such as age, occupation, socio-economic status, or diversity, which can influence social dynamics.
Example:
The varied demographics of the bustling, impoverished London streets in Oliver Twist expose the stark class divisions and social injustices of the era.
Historical and Cultural References (in setting)
Mentions of specific events, practices, traditions, or societal norms that ground a story in a particular era or culture.
Example:
The frequent historical and cultural references to the Cold War paranoia in Dr. Strangelove highlight the absurdity and danger of nuclear brinkmanship.
Mood (influenced by setting)
The overall atmosphere or emotional feeling evoked in the reader by the story's environment, often through sensory details.
Example:
The perpetually dark, rain-soaked Gotham City in The Batman creates a grim and gritty mood that reflects the city's pervasive crime and corruption.
Physical Descriptions (of setting)
Details about the landscape, weather, architecture, and sensory elements that define a story's environment and contribute to its mood.
Example:
The vivid physical descriptions of the dense, oppressive jungle in Heart of Darkness reflect the moral decay and psychological turmoil of the characters.
Place (in setting)
The geographical location, physical environment, and social environment where a story unfolds, often shaping its atmosphere and events.
Example:
The isolated, windswept moors of Wuthering Heights serve as a wild and untamed place that mirrors the passionate and destructive love between Catherine and Heathcliff.
Plot (influenced by setting)
How the events, conflicts, and narrative progression of a story are driven, enabled, or restricted by the specific time and place.
Example:
The confined, claustrophobic spaceship plot in Alien intensifies the suspense and horror as the crew is trapped with a deadly creature.
Setting
The overall physical, social, and cultural context in which a story takes place, encompassing both time and place.
Example:
The desolate, post-apocalyptic landscape in The Road creates a bleak and challenging setting that constantly tests the characters' will to survive.
Social Norms and Customs (in setting)
The unwritten rules, beliefs, expectations, and traditions that govern behavior within a story's society, often creating conflict or defining character roles.
Example:
The strict social norms and customs of the Puritan community in The Scarlet Letter lead to Hester Prynne's public shaming and isolation.
Symbolic Use of Setting
When elements of the setting represent abstract ideas, emotions, or deeper meanings within the story, adding layers of interpretation.
Example:
The isolated, snow-covered hotel in The Shining serves as a symbolic use of setting for Jack Torrance's descent into madness and the haunting nature of the past.
Technology and Transportation (in setting)
The tools, vehicles, and communication methods present in a story's environment, indicating its technological advancement or historical period.
Example:
The reliance on steamships and telegraphs as technology and transportation in Around the World in Eighty Days underscores the challenges and marvels of global travel in the late 19th century.
Themes (influenced by setting)
The central ideas or messages of a story that are reinforced, symbolized, or explored through its environment.
Example:
The decaying Southern plantation in A Streetcar Named Desire reinforces the themes of fading aristocracy and the clash between illusion and reality.
Time (in setting)
The specific historical period, season, or time of day in which a story is situated, influencing character actions and societal norms.
Example:
The rigid social expectations of the Regency era time in Pride and Prejudice dictate the limited choices available to women seeking marriage.