6.1 Before You Read

One of the most important parts of any story is the setting. The setting describes:

1. The location of the story - The author usually describes the setting(s) in a story with lots of detail. This helps the reader really picture the scene.

• In a small town in northern British Columbia, in the woods, on a distant planet, etc.

2. The time of the story - The time when a story takes place affects many things. If the story were to take place in the early 1800s, for instance, then everything the characters do, wear, say, and how they live must match the time period.

• A long time ago, today, 2050, during a war, in the future...

3. The mood or feeling of the story - Is it a happy place? A sad place? A scary place? Authors carefully choose their settings in order to create a certain mood.

• Frightening: a story set in a haunted house on a dark, stormy night.
• Peaceful and relaxing: a tropical island with a gentle breeze and waves lapping against the shore.

Skillful writers often take you through many different moods as they tell their story.