Writing an Essay about Story Settings

Kori Morgan reports:

"An analysis of setting focuses on the role location plays in a story, such as creating mood, developing characters or serving as a symbol. You can write an effective essay on literary setting by considering the specific ways the location influences the story and using clear examples with textual evidence...Determine the role setting plays in the work. Often, setting creates the story's mood, or atmosphere...You can also write about how setting affects character...Your thesis should clearly and specifically state the setting's role in the work and how it is established. To determine this, go back through the story and underline specific passages where the setting establishes mood, symbolism or character. Take the most important three details and formulate your thesis...Your essay's body paragraphs should include topic sentences followed by an explanation of the point with textual evidence...The concluding paragraph reviews the elements of setting you've discussed and briefly restates how they relate to your thesis. A good conclusion doesn't merely summarize the essay but instead wraps it up in a way that gives unity to the piece and introduces something new for readers to consider."