Historical Fiction Journal #1

Directions: Comment, Observe, Ask Questions, Make Predictions, Make Self Connections, and/or Analyze the following:

• Setting 
• Mood (the overall feeling in the story)
• What do you already know about the history?

*Cite from the text to support your response.

Setting

Definition: 

In literature, the word ‘setting’ is used to identify and establish the time, place and mood of the events of the story. It basically helps in establishing where and when and under what circumstances the story is taking place. A story can have multiple settings, which helps to provide contrast.

Example: 

In the first installment of the Harry Potter series, a large part of the book takes place at the protagonist, Harry’s, aunt’s and uncle’s place, living in the “muggle” (non-magical) world with the “muggle” folks, and Harry is unaware of his magical capabilities and blood. This setting establishes the background that Harry has a non-magical childhood with other “muggle” people and has no clue about his special powers or his parents and is raised much like, actually worse than, regular people, till his 11th birthday.

Mood

Definition: 

In literature, mood is a literary element that evokes certain feelings in readers throughout words and descriptions. Usually, mood is referred to as the atmosphere of a literary piece, as it creates an emotional situation that surrounds the readers. Mood is developed in a literary piece through various methods. It can be developed through setting, theme, tone, and diction*.

*Diction can be defined as style of speaking or writing determined by the choice of words by a speaker or a  writer.

Example: 

Charles Dickens creates a calm and peaceful mood in his novel "Pickwick Papers":

"The river, reflecting the clear blue of the sky, glistened and sparkled as it flowed noiselessly on."

The depiction of idyllic scenery imparts a serene and non-violent mood to the readers.

http://literarydevices.net/mood/