Setting (literature)

For other meanings, see setting.

For a topical guide to this subject, see Outline of fiction.

In fiction, setting includes the time, location, circumstances, and characters, everything in which a story takes place, and provides the main backdrop and mood for a story. Setting has been referred to as story world ^[1] or milieu to include a context (especially society) beyond the immediate surroundings of the story. Elements of setting may include culture, historical period, geography, and hour. Along with plot, character, theme, and style, setting is considered one of the fundamental components of fiction.^[2]

Contents 1 Role of setting 2 Types of setting 3 See also 4 Footnotes 5 References

Role of setting

Setting may take a key role in plot, as in man vs. nature or man vs. society stories. In some stories the setting becomes a character itself. ^[3] In such roles setting may be considered a plot device or literary device.

Types of setting

Settings may take various forms:

• Alternate history
• Campaign setting
• Constructed world
• Dystopia
• Fantasy world
• Fictional country
• Fictional location
• Fictional universe
• Future history
• Imaginary world
• Mythical place
• Parallel universe
• Planets in science fiction
• Simulated reality
• Virtual reality
• Utopia

See also

• Index of fictional places
• List of fictional universes

Footnotes

References

• Obstfeld, Raymond (2002). Fiction First Aid: Instant Remedies for Novels, Stories and Scripts. Cincinnati, OH: Writer's Digest Books. ISBN 158297117x. 
• Rozelle, Ron (2005). Write Great Fiction: Description & Setting. Cincinnati, OH: Writer's Digest Books. ISBN 158297327x. 
• Truby, John (2007). Anatomy of a Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller. New York, NY: Faber and Faber, Inc. ISBN 9780865479517. 

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