#9 Week 8 The Literary Uses of Setting pg.209-210

Summary

Literary use of setting is meant to create meaning in stories, enhance credibility and realism, and to emphasize character qualities. The amount of detail varies depending on the individual author’s purpose in their story. In order for a writer to establish verisimilitude, they must describe particular objects in particular and detailed locations so that the story becomes believable or real. For example using real life places in order to  help the reader better visualize the location, or real life events to help the story sound plausible and even including everyday items to help the reader relate to the character and story.  The way characters react and or change to their surroundings can show the reader some qualities about said characters.

Reader Response

I really like how setting can be used to manipulate a story, characters and plot. I knew a setting was an important part of a story I just did not know that it could change so much in a story. I think it’s cool how writers can manipulate literary locations to make them comparable to other things almost like symbolism: for example a curvy woodland path can represent and unpredictable, deceiving, and risky life ahead. It’s also interesting that credibility can be established with a setting that is set in the real world.  I think that paying attention to certain details and trying to explain their role in a story is always kind of fun but I didn’t know it was “vital” to the plot of a story.