1. Setting When you come in, discuss with a partner:
Describe a setting you would pair with the following characters...what would it look like? What would you see there?
Be ready to share!

2. What is Setting?
Setting is the WHEN and the WHERE a story takes place. Also known as the TIME and the PLACE.
Time: Historical period, time of day, year, etc.
Place: Geographical location. where is the action taking place?
But setting can tell us more than just TIME and PLACE...

3. What does Setting tell the reader/viewer?
Weather Conditions: Is it rainy, sunny, stormy, etc.?
Social Conditions: What is the daily life of the character like? How does the character behave, interact, talk, dress?
Mood or Atmosphere: What feeling is created at the beginning of the story? Is it bright and cheerful or dark and frightening?
The author’s choice of setting, details, images, and words all contribute to the story’s mood.
A story that takes place in the desert will not have characters shivering in wool sweaters during the day.

4. Foreshadowing
Foreshadowing is hints or clues of what is to come in the story.
Setting can reveal this:
E.g.: Old houses are being torn down to make way for new things in a city. But an old man is emotionally attached to his home and happens to have thousands of helium balloons… what might happen?

5. Flashback
A flashback is going back in time to past events to help show a memory or explain an event.
Used to give more details about the story or the characters.
Can also explain how a character or a place got to where it is now.
Example: In Pixar’s Up, we know that Carl is a miserable old man, but we get his backstory through a flashback…what can we guess about Carl’s character from this flashback?

6. Imagery – making descriptive characters/settings
Imagery is creating a picture with words.
Try to use your five senses!
The more details you give the better the image in the reader’s head:
Ms. Jones has a grey cat.
Ms. Jones has a grey, fluffy, 8 pound tabby with big ears and bright green eyes.