As part of English, we are required to As part of English, we are required to study novels, poems and short stories. study novels, poems and short stories. Many people bemoan the fact that we Many people bemoan the fact that we can’t just read the novel once and be can’t just read the novel once and be done with it; that is, read it, use it for done with it; that is, read it, use it for entertainment and move on to the next entertainment and move on to the next book. book.

So, why do we need to ‘study’ the novel?So, why do we need to ‘study’ the novel?

• The primary purpose of many novels is to The primary purpose of many novels is to entertain the reader.entertain the reader.

• The first time we read a novel we are The first time we read a novel we are transported into the world created by the transported into the world created by the author. author.

• We are not conscious of the way in which the We are not conscious of the way in which the author has created the fictional world filled author has created the fictional world filled with characters we begin to care about.with characters we begin to care about.

• Instead, we are spellbound, just as the author Instead, we are spellbound, just as the author wanted us to be.wanted us to be.

• As students of literature it is our job to As students of literature it is our job to figure out the authors tricks.figure out the authors tricks.

• Tricks is another way of saying Tricks is another way of saying ‘developing analytical and close reading ‘developing analytical and close reading skills’skills’

• Why do we need to develop these Why do we need to develop these skills? What benefit will they be to us in skills? What benefit will they be to us in the ‘real world’?the ‘real world’?

Analytical and close reading skills are Analytical and close reading skills are used in all fieldsused in all fields

• it makes engineers better problem solvers it makes engineers better problem solvers • lawyers better advocates and courtroom lawyers better advocates and courtroom

practitioners practitioners • politicians better rhetoricianspoliticians better rhetoricians• marketing and advertising agents better marketing and advertising agents better

sellerssellers• citizens more aware consumerscitizens more aware consumers

• So, we look at all elements of a novel to So, we look at all elements of a novel to discover the tricks.discover the tricks.

• What are the elements we study in a novel? What are the elements we study in a novel? • SettingSetting• CharactersCharacters• PlotPlot• ThemeTheme• AtmosphereAtmosphere• Language or styleLanguage or style

• Despite the fact that we look at each of Despite the fact that we look at each of these elements separately, it is these elements separately, it is important to remember that none of important to remember that none of them operate in isolation.them operate in isolation.

• Each influences the other and is in turn Each influences the other and is in turn a part of the wholea part of the whole

• For example, the setting affects the For example, the setting affects the characters, or the atmosphere is characters, or the atmosphere is created through language.created through language.

SettingSetting

• What does the term setting refer to?What does the term setting refer to?

• Setting refers to the time, place and Setting refers to the time, place and social background in a text. social background in a text.

• Social background refers to what is Social background refers to what is occuring in society during the period in occuring in society during the period in which the text is set.which the text is set.

• Setting is hugely important in a novel, Setting is hugely important in a novel, so much so that there is often an exam so much so that there is often an exam question in the final exam. question in the final exam.

• Why is the setting important?Why is the setting important?

• It can shape charactersIt can shape characters

• It can shape eventsIt can shape events

• It can create moodIt can create mood

• Re-read chapters one and twoRe-read chapters one and two

• Find all the details related to the setting-Find all the details related to the setting-focus on time and placefocus on time and place

• Write out the details you consider to be Write out the details you consider to be important in your books using quotes important in your books using quotes from the text. Make sure you include a from the text. Make sure you include a page numberpage number

In the introduction, the setting is used to In the introduction, the setting is used to create mood or atmosphere.create mood or atmosphere.

• What does mood or atmosphere refer What does mood or atmosphere refer to?to?

• The feeling created by the authorThe feeling created by the author

• How do authors create mood?How do authors create mood?

• Through word choice and the use of Through word choice and the use of figurative languagefigurative language

• Have another look at the quotes you Have another look at the quotes you selected about setting from the selected about setting from the introduction.introduction.

• Highlight all the quotes that you think Highlight all the quotes that you think contribute to or establish the moodcontribute to or establish the mood

• Complete the exercise at the bottom of Complete the exercise at the bottom of page 55page 55

• Summarise in one sentence the overall Summarise in one sentence the overall mood created by the description of the mood created by the description of the setting in the introduction.setting in the introduction.

• Choose two quotes about the settingChoose two quotes about the setting

• Identify language features used in the Identify language features used in the quote and their effect. How does the quote and their effect. How does the language feature contribute to the language feature contribute to the mood?mood?