The setting is an important piece of any story. The setting can help paint a clear picture in order to establish what the characters are feeling as well as setting the tone of story. In the following stories, “The Destructors” and “The Most Dangerous Game,” Graham Greene and Richard Connell demonstrate the tone of the story by using Old Misery’s house and General Zaroff’s Chateau as the main focal point. While the two stories present differences in the tone of the setting, they both make a connection of the beauty that these two places possess. Greene uses Old Misery’s house to formulate the story that prepares the reader of how a post-war building and surroundings can have an effect on people’s behavior and feelings while Connell uses General Zaroff’s Chateau in a way to deceive the reader from what is really happening in the jungle of Ship Trap Island. In “The Destructors”, the mood of the story is driven by a war torn town post WWII. Connell accomplished this distraction by bringing the reader aboard a yacht that is accompanied by two men heading to Brazil. Of course, “Ship trap Island” creates a place of mystery and doesn’t leave a lot room for imagination. Connell illustrates the setting as both suspenseful and mysterious. The setting of the story takes the reader deep into the jungle of Ship Trap Island where a “chateau” is discovered. Only to discover that the “chateau”, belonging to General Zaroff’s, symbolizes more than the feeling of relief; it is General Zaroff’s personal hunting lodge. In fact, venturing through the unknown while in the middle of the night can be unnerving and suspenseful to anyone who has been in that position. As the reader follows Rainsford through the daunting task of finding help after falling off the yacht, the mysteries of Ship Trap Island has the reader on the edge of their seat wondering what is going to happen
Marked by two world wars and the anxiety that accompanies humanity's knowledge of the ability to destroy itself, the Twentieth Century has produced literature that attempts to depict the plight of the modern man living in a modern waste land. If this sounds dismal and bleak, it is. And that is precisely why the dark humor of Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. shines through our post-modern age. The devastating bombing of Dresden, Germany at the close of World War II is the subject of Vonnegut's most highly acclaimed work, Slaughterhouse-Five or The Children's Crusade: A Duty Dance with Death. Vonnegut's experience as an American POW in Dresden fuels the narrative that unconventionally defines his generation through the life and death of Billy Pilgrim. The survival of Billy Pilgrim at Dresden and his re-entry to the shell-shocked world reveal a modern day journey of the anti-hero. Vonnegut's unusual style and black satire provide a refreshing backdrop for a vehement anti-war theme and enhance his adept ability to depict the face of humanity complete with all of its beauty and blemishes. Likewise, Vonnegut adds his own philosophy concerning time, our place in it, and connection (or disconnection) to it and one other. Perhaps the most crucial step in understanding this intriguing work is to start with its title, which holds the key to Vonnegut's most prevailing theme.
In Richard Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game”, he uses several literary devices to keep the reader interested. During Rainsfords journey to and through the island of General Zaroff he partakes in an adventurous journey filled with mystery, suspense, and dilemma. These devices are used to keep the reader interested throughout the story.
Consequently, it is revealed through foreshadowing that some of the general’s tactics may be a result of a cannibalistic nature. In the text the author labels Zarroff’s kind as savages: “I’m afraid like all his race a bit of a savage”(6). Before the generals cannibalistic nature is unveiled, the author begins to reveal the blood-curdling reality of this desolate, dreary, and daunting island by foreshadowing the “savage” ways of the
This extract emphasises the lonely, outworld feeling that would have been felt living in such settings. This puts into perspective the feeling that will be felt during the coarse of the plot development.
Settings are used in short stories so that they can complement the themes. Themes in “The Cask of Amontillado” included revenge and deception, which were brought out by the carnival and the catacombs settings. Themes in “Hills Like White Elephants” included evasion of responsibility and miscommunication, and this was outlined by the train tracks, the environment on either side of the train tracks, and the hills themselves. Hence, in both short stories, setting played an integral role in emphasizing the themes.
In Graham Greene's "The Destructors," the setting is in London, in a town destroyed by bombs. Every morning, the gang meets at a hangout called car-park, which is the site of the last bombing. The bombing leaves the town destroyed, with only one beautiful thing left standing, Old Misery's house, which the gang will eventually destroy. Graham Greene's choice of setting significantly illustrates how people's surroundings greatly influence their actions and behaviors.
In Oceania, there are various predominant settings which plays a major role in the novel. These settings include the Victory Mansions, The Ministry of Truth, the room over Mr. Charingtons, the Ministry of Love, Room 101, and the Chestnut Tree Cafe. Each of these places allow readers to gain a deeper understanding of the novel as major themes such as corruption and loss of freedom are highlighted. The state of minds of the characters are also
The short story “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell contains elements of fantasy that helps it to be categorized. These elements include an imaginary setting, an improbable and surprising plot, and a good vs. evil theme. These elements help the author create a story that removes readers from the stress of everyday
The Importance of Setting in Jack London's To Build A Fire In "To Build a Fire" by Jack London, the setting plays a. significant role throughout the entire short story. Jack London uses techniques to establish the atmosphere of the story. By introducing his readers to the setting, prepares them for a tone that is. depressed and frightening. Isolated by an environment of frigid weather and doom, the author shows us how the main character of the story completely unaware of his surroundings.
This story takes place on a Caribbean island. The story involves a war between the two main characters. Zaroff is attempting to hunt Rainsford. The geography of the island is a great place for such a thing because it has swamps, thick brush and trees, trails, and quicksand. All of these features cause the characters to display all of their tricks and traps that they have acquired over the years. The setting causes a lot of suspense and excitement because it enables the characters to use traps, display their survival skills, and use their wits to out battle one another.
The setting or settings in a novel are often an important element in the work. Many novels use contrasting places such as cities or towns, to represent opposing forces or ideas that are central to the meaning of the work. In Thomas Hardy's novel, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, the contrasting settings of Talbothays Dairy and Flintcomb-Ash represent the opposing forces of good and evil in Tess' life.
The theme of The destructors are very meaningful, While adult are trying to rebuild the city after the war. Little kids who grownups from war and destruction, are taught by the war which is to destroy. Everything is easy to rebuild after the war, but one's mind that is set and shaped is hard to change. Human are like the youth gangs, they are not lack at intelligence or creative imaginations. But in moral and ethical aspects, people are still in the infant stage of ignorance and are very blind to distinguish between right and wrong.
In “To Build a Fire” by Jack London, the setting plays a significant role throughout the entire story. The chosen setting by London creates a specific and idealistic mood for his depressing story. It forces, as well as prepares, it’s audience to what the story holds. The amount of constant detail the story holds allows the reader to anticipate the ending that is inevitable to happen.
Rivers in this novel can also be a symbol for an escape. Weeks later, when Frederic hears from the barman about his expected arrest, he and Catherine escape for Switzerland by boat. They leave their old lives behind in search of a clean start in Swit...
Setting, a major gothic element, can play an important role in a story, including impacting a character’s behavior. For instance, the protagonist of the story, whose name is not mentioned, describes how she gets, “... a lovely view of the bay and a little private wharf belonging to the estate. There is a beautiful shaded lane that runs down there from the house (3)”. The location of the house in the story implies that since it is an estate, it consists of a bigger area of land, meaning it is possibly farther away from the town. Being away from others and confined to the estate causes the narrator to the feel isolated. Additionally, the feeling of isolation intensifies when John, the protagonist’s husband, suggests that his wife resides in the nursery.