1. Do Now: Imagine yourself as an elderly man or woman. You have an audience in front of you, and you’re about to tell them one of your many interesting life stories. What would you say is a crucial piece of information that SHOULD NOT be left out of the story? Explain.

2. Setting

3. The setting of a literary work is the time and place in which the story takes place.

4.  Questions to ask yourself as a reader and a writer of literature:

5. WHERE IS MY STORY BEING TOLD? IN WHAT TIME PERIOD DOES IT TAKE PLACE? Here are some examples…

6. Prehistoric times

7. Ancient Rome/Ancient Greece

8. Revolutionary Times

9. Medieval Times

10. Civil War Period

11. The Wild West

12. The Great Depression

13. World War I or II

14. Modern/Contemporary Times

15. The Future…

16. The setting is also created and revealed by WHERE the story takes place. Most often this is revealed by means of describing landscapes, scenery, buildings, weather, and the season. The most effective way to create setting is using excellent IMAGERY that will appeal to ALL senses.

17.  Not just SIGHT, but also SOUND, TASTE, TOUCH & SMELL. How does each of the following images/settings appeal to your FIVE senses?

18. Beach

19. Snow-Covered Mountain Range

20. Desert

21. Amusement Park

22. City

23. Haunted House

24. Ship on the High Seas

25. School

26. Forest

27. Sporting Event

28. Fantasy/Magical World

29. Often times the setting of a literary work has a direct effect on the plot and the plot sequence. For example:  Dark clouds, thunder, lightening, & rainstorm might reflect tension building up in the plot.  Sunny skies, clouds clearing, perhaps a rainbow might reflect resolution in the plot.