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SETTING IN LITERATURESetting refers to the natural and artificial scenery or environment in which characters in literature live and move. Things such as the time of day and the amount of light, the trees and animals, the sounds described, the smells, and the weather are part of the setting. There are three levels of setting:Micro- The first level of context is the microsystem. This level has the most immediate and earliest influences and includes the family, along with local friendship and peer groups, and neighbourhood or community institutions such as a particular school or church. Meso- the next level of nested context is the mesosystem. This possesses intermediate levels of influence such as larger and less personal social institutions like government, transportation, entertainment, news organizations, and the like, or geographic regions larger than a neighbourhood. The influence of these systems and institutions interacts with, and is filtered through, the microsystem institutions. This is society at large with embedded community or cultural aspects. Macro- The most global level of contextual surrounding is the macrosystem. This is the most distant from individuals and their influence and includes aspects such as international relations or global changes or even more abstract aspects of culture. For example, the movement from agricultural and industrial economies to an information-age, global economy is having widespread influence on the ways societies, communities, and families are operating.There are three main Dimensions of Setting1. Physical= Natural or Manufactured2. Temporal (Time)- Clock, Calendar, Seasonal, Historical3. Social/Psychological- This is the human dimension of setting. In different settings, different interactions take place (think of a front porch in a small town or a barren desert). Each setting has social and psychological dimensions. Pay attention to them.1. Physical SettingTwo Main Physical Divisions:NaturalThe setting for a great deal of literature is the out-of-doors, and, naturally enough, Nature herself is seen as a force that shapes character and action. A deep woods may make walking difficult or dangerous, or it may be place where lovers meet at night. Long distances may keep characters apart and make them different; when they meet, they may have problems that were made by their separation. A barren desert at night may make travelers seek a shelter that turns out to be unsafe. The ocean may produce storms that threaten lives, or it may be so calm that sailing ships cannot move on it. Other natural places may be the location of a quest for identity or of a meditation about the vastness of God and the smallness of human beings.ManufacturedManufactured things always reflect the people who made them. A building or a room tells about the people who build it and live in it, and ultimately about the social and political orders that maintain the conditions. A rich house shows the expensive tastes and resources of the characters owning it. A few cracks in the plaster and some chips in the paint may show the same persons declining in fortune and power. Ugly and impoverished surroundings may contribute to the weariness, insensitivity, negligence, or even hostility of the characters living in them.2. Temporal Setting (Time) We need to consider four kinds of time that may carry particular associations with them: * Clock time: this can be used to provide suspense or create certain moods or feelings. * Calendar time: the day, month, year, or more generally a day of the week or time of the month may provide an understanding of what takes place in a piece of literature. * Seasonal time: the seasons or a span of time associated with a particular activity may be important. * Historical time: this can establish a psychological or sociological understanding of behaviors and attitudes. 3. Social/Psychological- This is the human dimension of setting. In different settings, different interactions take place (think of a front porch in a small town or a barren desert). Each setting has social and psychological dimensions. Pay attention to them.----------------------------Setting: (shortened version of Jim Corbett story)Jim Corbett is an Englishman but he lives in the highlands of India in the 1920s. He is single and works for the railroad as an administrator. It is a very time-consuming job, and he has many responsibilities. As an Englishman, he can sometimes have initial difficulties relating to native Indians as equals or communicating with them as a trusted confidante. Jim is also the greatest tiger hunter in India. When a man-eating tiger is on the loose anywhere in northern India, he is called upon to hunt and kill the tiger. He is then released from work at the railroad for the duration of the hunt. These tigers typically live in deep jungle and mountainous areas. Man-eating tigers are often injured, which is why they eat humans—who are easy prey. Once tigers develop a taste for humans they tend to stay in that area and continue attacking people. Tigers are very intelligent and can circle back, walk through water, hide in trees and rocky caves, cover their tracks, and use other strategies to evade being found. Jim needs the help of the locals and requires guides, although these people are often paralyzed by fear and are reluctant to help him.Uses of setting The setting may be nothing more than the backdrop for what occurs; however, it may be directly linked to mood or meaning. * It can create an atmosphere that affects our response to the work. * It may have a direct effect on a character's motivation. * An external force may enter the setting and change it, causing conflict for the characters. * The setting itself may be an antagonist. * Two settings may come into conflict with each other, causing conflict in the characters who must live in them and perhaps have to choose between them. SPECIFIC DETAILS ABOUT SETTING People exist in a particular time and place. Where we live may contribute not only to our personality, but also to our values, attitudes, and even our problems. In literature, setting (time and place) can also influence characters and what they do. Reading for setting Sometimes the setting is clearly described by the narrator. However, some works will require you to search for clues, especially with regard to the nonphysical environment. * Learn about the author and the time and place of writing. * Note suggestive details. * Note unique uses of language and, perhaps, hidden references to the historical or cultural environment. Name of Story_________________________________Name________________ Block_________Dimensions of SettingDescription of AspectImpact on Character/PlotLevel of setting that is most important (micro, meso, macro)PhysicalNaturalManufacturedTemporalClock:Calendar:Seasonal:Historical:Social/Psychological ................
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