Setting

Definition

Setting refers to the time and place in which a story or piece of writing occurs, providing the backdrop that influences the narrative. In feature writing, setting establishes the mood and context for the story, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the environment and understand the circumstances surrounding the characters and events.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In feature writing, the setting is often described in rich detail to engage the reader's senses and create a vivid mental picture.
2. Effective use of setting can reveal character traits and motivations, showing how individuals interact with their environment.
3. The temporal aspect of setting can indicate the historical or cultural context of the narrative, providing deeper insight into the characters' actions.
4. Authors may use contrasting settings to highlight differences in character experiences or to symbolize internal conflicts.
5. In-depth reporting often involves capturing real-world settings, which can influence public perception and understanding of the issues presented.

Review Questions

• How does setting contribute to character development in feature writing?
  • Setting plays a crucial role in character development by providing context that shapes how characters behave and interact with their environment. For instance, a character's responses to their surroundings can reveal their background, emotions, and motivations. By embedding characters in specific settings, writers can show how external factors influence internal struggles, ultimately deepening the reader's understanding of the characters.
• Discuss the ways in which setting can enhance the emotional impact of a feature story.
  • Setting enhances emotional impact by establishing an atmosphere that resonates with readers on a sensory level. When a writer uses descriptive language to evoke sights, sounds, and feelings related to a particular place and time, it helps readers connect emotionally with the narrative. For example, a gloomy, rain-soaked street can evoke feelings of despair, while a sunlit park might instill joy. These emotional responses can heighten engagement with the story.
• Evaluate how different settings might alter the audience's perception of an event when reporting on it.
  • Different settings can significantly alter audience perception by framing events within specific contexts. For instance, reporting on a protest from within a crowded urban center might convey urgency and chaos, whereas coverage from a serene suburban neighborhood could suggest an entirely different narrative of community response. By choosing how and where to present an event, journalists can influence public interpretation and understanding, illustrating how setting is not just backdrop but a powerful storytelling tool.

Related terms

Context: The circumstances or background information that surround a particular event, helping to explain its significance.

Atmosphere: The overall feeling or mood created by the setting, which can evoke emotions and shape readers' perceptions of the narrative.

Imagery: Descriptive language that appeals to the senses, helping to paint a vivid picture of the setting and enhancing the reader's experience.