SETTING

The place and time, or the where and when of a story

What effect does the setting have on a story?

The setting can greatly affect a story's outcome, characters, and is often essential to the events of a story.

"Mariana" by Fritz Leiber

SETTING

• The setting changes throughout the story
• Seems to take place in the future, on the moon
• Setting changes from in a big villa surrounded by pine trees to no more trees(endless miles of flat, gray rock) to no more house and no stars, to a blue hospital room with a white pinstripe, finally ending in complete darkness
  

"Mariana" by Fritz Leiber

LEAD

• Introduces the main character, Mariana
• Introduces the original setting-a big villa surrounded by pine trees
• Lures you in because you wonder what the "secret control panel" is and what its importance is

Mariana by Fritz Leiber

POINT OF VIEW

Told from 3rd person Limited Omnicient (only know Mariana's feelings)

-Learn about Johnathon's feelings through dialogue or through her eyes

Mariana by Fritz Leiber

PROTAGONIST

• MARIANA
• Curious, inferior, childish, possibly extremely depressed, clutsy, fearful, abused, oppressed
  
• Static character (unless you consider the story a metaphor of depression, in that case she is dynamic)

Mariana by Fritz Leiber

ANTAGONIST

• Secret control panel/ circumstances
• Or depression (if story is considered a metaphor)

Mariana by Fritz Leiber

MINOR CHARACTERS

• JOHNATHON
• Controlling, successful, physically and verbally abusive, ridiculing, reckless (drives fast), belittling
• Static character

Let's Check Your Mastery Questions

1. The where and when of a story is called the:

(a) place

(b) setting

(c) time

(d) theme

(b) Setting

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

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2. The setting of the experience I told about my life is:

(a) today in Utah

(b) a fairy-tale castle

(c) a few years ago in Germany

(d) my thoughts on The Brothers Grimm

(c) A few years ago in Germany

Because my experience is about my time in Germany, the setting is "a few years ago in Germany."

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3. The setting of a story can greatly affect the outcome of a story.

(a) True

(b) False

(a) True

The setting of a story can influence who the characters will be and even what will happen in a story.

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4. Why do you think it's so important for an author to carefully choose the setting for a story?

The setting of a story can greatly affect what happens in a story. Consequently, an author must carefully consider the setting of a story and how the setting will add or detract from the storyline.

LEAD

A lead is the beginning of a story (first couple paragraphs) that the author uses to catch the reader's interest.

What can a lead tell readers about a story?

A lead can provide readers with clues to the content of the story, as well as whether or not it will interest them.

What techniques do writers use in leads to captivate readers?

1. Begin with a conversation, or dialogue, between two characters
2. Describe the setting in which the story will occur
3. Jump right into the action

Example leads

The Watsons Go to Birmingham- 1963

(Christopher Paul Curtis)

• Starts you right off with the setting-you may not know when it is but you do know that it's  a "super-duper-cold Saturday"
• The narrator sounds personable and funny, and it makes you want to read further

Example Leads

A Wrinkle in Time

(Madeleine L'Engle)

• L'Engle is a master of language-she knows just how to create an eerie setting that will draw in the reader.
• The "dark and stormy night" with it's description draws you in and makes you want to keep reading.

Example Leads

A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning

(Lemony Snicket)

• Narrator is hilarious in his description of the misfortune of these youngsters
• Draws the reader in with the desire to know just how bad it gets

Example Leads

Maniac Magee

(Jerry Spinelli)

Maniac Magee starts off as a legend. The author tells what "they say" instilling in the reader a desire to know if what "they say" is really true.

Example Leads

Freak the Mighty

(Rodman Philbrick)

• The narrator is so honest in his description of how things were before "Freak came along."
• The author gives the reader just enough information to make the reader wonder what happens next.

Example Leads

Catherine, Called Birdy

(Karen Cushman)

Raises several questions and it is the desire to have these questions answered that keeps the reader reading

Let's Check Your Mastery Questions

5. The opening paragraphs of a story are often called the ______.

(a) introduction

(b) prologue

(c) first paragraph

(d) lead

(d) lead

A lead is the beginning of a story that the author uses to catch the reader's interest.

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6. Why do you think it so important for an author to choose a lead carefully?

The lead is the way in which an author not only introduces a story, but also grabs the reader's attention. Authors want readers to be interested in their stories, and so it's important that they choose the leads for their stories that will aptly introduce the reader to the story and its characters and interest readers.

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What can the author tell the reader through a lead?

An author will often introduce setting, characters, and even what the story will be about to the readers.

Example Leads

The Dark is Rising

(Susan Cooper)

Dialogue, a conversation between two or more characters, is used to grab the attention of the reader.

DIALOGUE

A conversation between two or more characters

Why is dialogue important in a story or novel?

1. It allows the reader to learn the thoughts and feelings of the characters through their own words.
2. It can be used to help readers understand the personalities of several characters, regardless of who is telling the story.

Example Leads

Ender's Game

(Orson Scott Card)

Uses dialogue to grab the reader's attention

Let's Check Your Mastery Questions

8. Even though we don't know who the speakers are, what can we guess about them?

(a) They are government officials.

(b) They are parents worried about their children.

(c) They are trying to find a particular person.

(d) They always agree with each other.

(c) They are trying to find a particular person.

Because the two speakers refer to "the one" and specific qualities they are seeking in an individual, we can guess they are looking for someone in particular.

Let's Check Your Mastery Questions

9. Why does the second speaker think the person they are talking about may not be "the one?"

(a) He is too young.

(b) He is too much like his brother.

(c) He may be the enemy.

(d) He may not be strong enough.

(d) He may not be strong enough.

The second speaker says, "He's too malleable. Too willing to submerge himself in someone else's will." When a person is malleable, he/she is flexible, not strong and unbending.

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10. What are the speakers going to do with the person they are observing?

(a) Reward him for his kindness.

(b) Make his life more difficult.

(c) Make him king.

(d) Dismiss him from the program.

(b) Make his life more difficult.

The speakers say they will "surround him will enemies all the time" if necessary.  We don't know from this passage what will happen to this individual, but we can guess that surrounding him with enemies will most likely make his life much more difficult.

What do readers have to be careful of pertaining to leads?

Readers need to be careful not to give up reading novels simply because the leads don't catch their attention.

• Leads can be deceiving.
• Sometimes you have to read past the first several pages to reach the "good part"