the person who the story is about

the person who illustrates the story

Setting tells you where and when a story occurs. Setting includes two things: time and place. Time includes the time period. It can also include elapsed time, or how much time passes for the characters. The place is where a story happens, including details about what that space looks, sounds or smells like or what it is like to live there. Read the following passage from Alice in Wonderland: Once in the wood, she was anxious to get back to her right size again, and then to get into that lovely garden. But how? Peeping over a mushroom, she beheld a large blue caterpillar sitting on the top with its arms folded... Which detail from the text provides a clue to the place where this passage takes place?

“A large blue caterpillar..”

“...get back to her right size again...”

How do you know what the setting of a story is? Sometimes, a narrator will tell you where and when the story occurs right away. Often, though, you’ll have to look for clues to determine the setting. Try to find words or phrases that tell you what it looks like or sounds like where the characters are. Characters can also give clues about the setting. Be sure that your inferences about the setting are backed up by evidence from the text. Read the following passage: As Maribelle hurried down the street, the wind swept the snow along the sidewalk and hid her footsteps, so that it looked as if no one had passed. Above her, the cold, silent skyscrapers of the city loomed. The whole block was eerily silent in the snowstorm, and she pulled her coat tightly around her. Maribelle had only moved here a few months before. She came because she wanted to be a singer. But right now, she was frightened. Which detail from the passage indicate the setting?

“Above her, the cold, silent skyscrapers of the city loomed.”

“Maribelle had only moved here a few months before.”

“But right now, she was frightened.”

“She came because she wanted to be a singer.”

Setting can also affect the plot, or the events that make up the story or novel. Some plots can take place only in certain times and places. Which option describes a plot that can only take place in a specific setting?

A ship’s captain chases a whale across the sea.

A selfish child tries to be a better person.

A young woman falls in love with her family’s enemy.

A poor, hardworking woman becomes a successful chef.

Setting can symbolize, or stand for, other elements of a story. For example, when setting changes, a character might change. Setting can also symbolize what a character is feeling in a particular scene. Setting can also help us understand the choices that characters make. Read the following passage: Gilberto had been excited to go to the beach but when he got there and saw how crowded it was, he became annoyed. The sun twinkled in the sky, a warm yellow globe. The sound of the ocean drummed in his ears and the sand itched his ankles and feet. Beside him, his sister slurped loudly on an ice cream cone. “Could you not?” Gilberto asked. Which detail about the setting tells us that Gilberto is annoyed?

“The sound of the ocean drummed in his ears and the sand itched his ankles and feet.”

“The sun twinkled in the sky, a warm yellow globe.”

“Beside him, his sister slurped loudly on an ice cream cone.”

“Gilberto had been excited to go to the beach...”

In addition to plot and character, setting can shape the mood of a story. A story’s mood is its general atmosphere or overall feeling. The mood of a story can be energetic, nervous, peaceful or many other feeling words. Which of the following settings suggest a tense and nervous mood?

A long line of people waiting for a few concert tickets.

A city playground full of laughing, playing children and parents.

A stream running through a quiet, isolated forest.

An empty mall parking lot early on a Sunday morning.

Which questions about a story will the setting answer?

Where and when does the story take place?

What is the author’s attitude toward the characters?

Who are the people the story is about?

Why and when did the author write the story?

What is the setting of the passage below? One summer day, Randolph the Bright slept alone in his room in the castle at Reddington. The light of morning seeped slowly through his curtains. Randolph blinked against the day, smiling as his dream came to a peaceful conclusion.

winter in a train station of a busy city

In the passage below, what can you infer about Randolph using clues from the setting? One summer day, Randolph the Bright slept alone in his room in the castle at Reddington. The light of morning seeped slowly through his curtains. Randolph blinked against the day, smiling as his dream came to a peaceful conclusion.

The setting doesn’t give us any clues about Randolph.

If the passage below were set at Lena’s birthday party, what could you infer? Lena laughed loudly. “I can’t believe you did that!” she said, smiling.

Lena might have received an unexpected present.

Lena might be a very selfish character.

Lena might be mad at her best friend.

Lena might be talking to her uncle.

If the passage below were set in a snowy park where children were playing, what could you infer? Lena laughed loudly. “I can’t believe you did that!” she said, smiling.

Lena might have been gently hit by a snowball.

Lena might be playing a boardgame or card game.

Lena might be talking to herself.

Setting Shapes, Characters, and Plot

Quiz

•

English

•

6th Grade

•

Practice Problem

•

Hard

•

CCSS

RL.5.3, RL.4.3, RL.9-10.5

+21

Standards-aligned

Margaret Anderson

FREE Resource

29 questions

Show all answers

1.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

The problem in a story is the...

theme

resolution

climax

conflict

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.6.9

2.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

3 mins • 1 pt

What is the Time and Place of the Story?

Rising Action

Plot

Conflict

Setting

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

3.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

An individual in a literary work is called

setting

plot

narrator

character

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

4.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Which part of the story is represented by this blue blob?

exposition

rising action

climax

resolution

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

5.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Which part of the story is represented by this blue blob?

exposition

rising action

falling action

resolution

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

6.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Which part of the story is represented by this blue blob?

climax

rising action

falling action

resolution

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

7.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Which part of the story is represented by this blue blob?

climax

rising action

falling action

resolution

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

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Setting Shapes, Characters, and Plot

29 questions

The problem in a story is the...

What is the Time and Place of the Story?

An individual in a literary work is called

Which part of the story is represented by this blue blob?

Which part of the story is represented by this blue blob?

Which part of the story is represented by this blue blob?

Which part of the story is represented by this blue blob?

Which part of the story is represented by this blue blob?

What is the ending of the story called?

Who is the author?

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