Creating setting
A realistic and believable setting draws the readers into a narrative, telling them where and when events take place, about the environment (for example, weather, noise, light) and about the mood (for example, excited, happy and relaxed, or fearful and foreboding). Writers shape their setting to invite a connection and maintain readers' interest.
What makes the first of the following descriptions more effective?
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To be sure, it was a deserted place, down to the pigeon-house in the brewery-yard, which had been blown crooked on its pole by some high wind, and would have made the pigeons think themselves at sea, if there had been any pigeons there to be rocked by it. (Dickens, C 1861, Great Expectations, out of copyright.) |
| The place was deserted except for a crooked pigeon house in the brewery yard. |
Writers use a number of techniques to create precise, vivid pictures which invite readers into the story.
Re-open the 'Creating a story' worksheet. In the section headed 'Creating setting' create an example from your personal story to demonstrate each of the above elements.
You may like to read the following novels to identify examples of descriptive writing. (Or you may simply scan them.) Use your journal to respond to examples. Your teacher may direct you to relevant examples, or to other texts, or you may post a discussion thread on your online discussion forum where you share examples.
Winton, T & Davidson, A (illus) 1999, Blueback, Picador, Sydney.
Dahl, R & Blake, Q (illus) 2001, James and the Giant Peach,Puffin, London.
Dickens, C 1861, Great Expectations, www.gutenberg.org
