Etymology of Setting
The word “setting” originates “settan,” an archaic word used during the Middle ages to mean “to put in place” or “to fix.”
Its etymology could go back to Proto-Germanic root “*satjanan,” which shares a common ancestor with the Old Norse “setja” and the Gothic “satjan.”
The word “setting” evolved to cover various shades of meaning such as the act of arranging or placing something in a particular position as well as the context or environment in which something is located or takes place.
Meanings of Setting
The word “setting” has undergone significant semantic expansion and has come to encompass a wide range of meanings related to placement, context, and configuration.
Setting in Grammar
In grammar, “setting” is a singular noun that functions as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. For example:
Subject:
- “The setting of the sun was breathtaking.”
- “In historical novels, the setting often plays a significant role.”
Object:
- “She meticulously described the setting of the scene.”
- “We need to change the setting on the thermostat.”
Complement:
- “The artist”s painting captured the serene setting of a lakeside cabin.”
- “The success of the play relied heavily on the atmospheric setting created by the stage design.”
Definition of Setting as a Literary Device
The setting includes physical elements such as geography, climate, and architecture, as well as social and cultural elements such as language, customs, and political systems. It could be used to create symbolic or metaphorical associations with the themes and characters of the story.
Common Examples of Setting
| Example of Setting | Details and Real Example |
| Cities | Urban settings such as New York City, Paris, or Tokyo, can provide a rich backdrop for stories that explore themes such as loneliness, alienation, and social inequality. For example, in the novel “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the glittering and opulent setting of 1920s New York City serves as a reflection of the characters’ aspirations, excesses, and the stark divisions between the wealthy and the working class. |
| Small towns | Small towns evoke a sense of community and familiarity but are also used to explore themes of conformity, tradition, and small-mindedness. A real example of this is in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird where the setting of the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, becomes a microcosm of the deeply ingrained racism and social divisions of the 1930s American South. |
| Rural areas | Rural areas, such as farms, forests, or mountains, provide a stark contrast to urban settings and are used to explore themes of isolation, self-sufficiency, and rugged individualism. Walden by Henry David Thoreau shows the setting of the remote cabin in the woods highlighting the author’s quest for simplicity, self-reflection, and critique of modern society. Or Manor Farm in Animal Farm provides a good example of a rural setting. |
| Historical periods | Settings in historical periods, such as medieval Europe or Victorian England, can be used to explore themes such as power, class, and social change. A notable example is George Orwell”s novel 1984 where the dystopian setting of a totalitarian regime in a futuristic society serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of authoritarianism and the suppression of individual freedom. |
| Fantasy worlds | Fictional settings, such as the wizarding world of Harry Potter or the dystopian future of The Hunger Games, can be used to explore themes such as imagination, otherness, and rebellion. J.R.R. Tolkien”s Middle-earth, as depicted in The Lord of the Rings series, provides a fantastical setting that enables the exploration of heroism, friendship, and the battle between good and evil. |
| Outer space | Science fiction settings, such as outer space or other planets explore the themes of exploration, discovery, and the unknown. The film “Interstellar” directed by Christopher Nolan showcases a setting of the space to demonstrate the themes of human survival, the nature of time, and the pursuit of knowledge. |
Literary Examples of Setting
| Literary Work | Extract | Explanation |
| From The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald | “The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and beauty in the world.” | In this extract, Fitzgerald describes the view of New York City from the Queensboro Bridge. The passage captures the excitement and allure of the city during the 1920s, emphasizing its potential for mystery and beauty, which sets the tone for the novel’s exploration of wealth, decadence, and the American Dream. |
| From Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte | “I have just returned from a visit to my landlord—the solitary neighbour that I shall be troubled with. This is certainly a beautiful country! In all England, I do not believe that I could have fixed on a situation so completely removed from the stir of society.” | This extract is the opening of Wuthering Heights and introduces the isolated and remote setting of the novel. The narrator expresses appreciation for the beauty of the countryside but also notes the lack of human society, foreshadowing the novel’s themes of isolation, passion, and the supernatural. |
| From To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee | “Macomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I first knew it. In rainy weather the streets turned to red slop; grass grew on the sidewalks, the courthouse sagged in the square.” | Harper Lee paints a beautiful picture of the small Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama, setting the scene for the novel. The description conveys the town’s worn-down appearance and the sense of stagnation and decay that characterize it, reflecting the social and racial tensions central to the story. |
| From Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy | “The village of Marlott lay amid the north-eastern undulations of the beautiful Vale of Blakemore, or Blackmoor, a part of Wessex rarely visited by sightseers or excursionists, and less accessible than many remote quarters of the world.” | This extract introduces the rural countryside setting of Tess of the D’Urbervilles in Wessex, England, during the late 19th century. The description highlights the picturesque and idyllic nature of the landscape, with rolling hills and meadows, setting the stage for the novel’s exploration of Tess’s life in this pastoral environment. |
These excerpts and explanations provide insight into the settings and atmospheres created by these renowned authors, setting the stage for their respective literary works.
Suggested Readings
- Tuan, Yi-Fu. Space and Place: The Perspective of Experience. University of Minnesota Press, 2001.
- Loomba, Ania, et al. editors. Postcolonial Studies and Beyond, Duke University Press, 2005, pp. 185-188.
- Harjo, Joy, et al., editors. Reinventing the Enemy”s Language: Contemporary Native Women”s Writings of North America, W.W. Norton & Company, 1997.
- Rivkin, Julie, and Michael Ryan, editors. Literary Theory: An Anthology, 3rd ed., Blackwell Publishing, 2004.