There's a Time and a Place for That

In a story that is known to last throughout the ages, there is a certain characteristic that makes it worth reading and studying. Whether it be the character, plot development, or even the climax, there is always a certain hook to the text. In most cases, it is the sensory words that are used to explain the setting, time period, and events of a story. Overall, the setting is what can really illuminate the story to its full potential if it’s used correctly. In two particular texts, setting is used imaginatively, and creatively. In the texts, Old Man of the Temple, and The Man to Send Rain Clouds, the setting (including the values and attitudes held by the people of that time) influences the characters and story events by means of culture, “clique” activity, and era of the setting.

To begin, culture plays a very important role in the overall aspect of setting, as well as describing sensory words that would link setting to culture in another way. For example, if one were to travel to Louisiana, there is an enormous amount of culture involving voodoo there. However, dark magic isn’t always the case; in fact, one story takes place with more of a western theme, with an Ancient Greek theme in the other text. This very definition is clearly shown in The Man to Send Rain Clouds, when “…Leon took a piece of string out of his pocket and tied a small gray feather in the old man’s long white hair. Ken gave him the paint. Across the brown wrinkled forehead he drew a streak of white and along the high cheekbones he drew a strip of blue paint. He paused and watched Ken throw pinches of corn meal and pollen into the wind that fluttered the small gray feather. Then Leon painted with yellow under the old man’s broad nose, and finally, ...

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...ave slowly, wondering how they had managed to dig into the frozen ground; and then he remembered that this was New Mexico (Page 296).” Also, in Old Man of the Temple, they speak of modern inventions, such as the automobile and a regular business-man.

Throughout hardships of life, death, possession, and even curses, authors manage to make books that would be nothing without an amazing setting. Because of the setting, the reader is opened to a new level of senses, being able to feel the cold of a freezing night in New Mexico, or the strange feeling of having another person inside your own body. Obviously, the texts, Old Man of the Temple, and The Man to Send Rain Clouds, the setting (including the values and attitudes held by the people of that time) influences the characters and story events by means of culture, “clique” activity, and era of the setting.