Types of setting:
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Neutral setting: the setting is not
important, just a place where the action takes place.
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Spiritual setting: the values embodied
in the physical setting; there is no easy relationship between physical
setting and moral values.
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Dynamic setting: the setting may take on
the role of a character.
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Elements of a setting:
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Geography (topography,
scenery, interiors, etc.)
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Occupation and lifestyle of characters
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Time
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Religious, intellectual, and moral
environment
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Functions of a setting:
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Setting as metaphor: the setting
projects the internal state of the characters or a pervasive spiritual
atmosphere.
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Atmosphere: a mood or emotional aura
suggested by the setting and helping to establish the reader's expectations
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Setting as the dominant element:
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Time, especially in historical novels
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Place: regionalist or local color novels
(spiritual as well as geographical)
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Setting should lend unity to the novel: What does it contribute?
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