Topic – Setting of a Story

The setting of a story is the environment in which it takes place. The setting tells us where and when the story takes place, sets the mood for the story, and helps the reader to create a “movie” in their head while they read.

Setting: the location or time in which the story takes place

Mood: an emotional tone or general attitude

Theme: dominant idea or “motif”

We will read a text excerpt from The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe, in which the narrator describes their first view of the setting of the story in great detail. This section of the story uses rich descriptive words and phrases to convey the mood of the story.

Before Reading

Before reading the story, follow the links below to read and watch a biography of the author, and to review the vocabulary for the reading. There is a crossword puzzle in the vocabulary section – we will go over this in class, but it is for your practice only and will not be a graded assignment.

Once you have finished, click through to the text excerpt and complete the reading. There is also an audio clip of the reading available on the page.

After Reading

Now that you have completed the reading, please complete both the post-reading activity and creative activities below.

Post-reading Activity

Answer the below questions in 2-3 sentences:

1. Based on the excerpt, what do you expect from the story? What kind of theme do you think it will have? What details in the reading made you think so?

2. How did the excerpt make you feel? What do you think the author wanted the reader to feel while reading this introduction to the setting?

3. Based on the last two sentences of the reading, how did the narrator feel as he approached the house?

4. Regarding the author biography, do you think Poe’s personal life had any effect on the mood of his writing?

5. What did you think was most interesting about Edgar Allan Poe and the reading we completed for this lesson?

Creative Activity

In the reading, Edgar Allan Poe uses vivid imagery and descriptive language to bring the reader into the world of the story – he makes it easy to see the setting, mood, and theme of his writings. For this creative assignment, draw a picture of your interpretation of the setting of the story. Read the text excerpt and draw what you think the outside of the house and the surroundings look like.

Extra Credit

Imagine you are an author trying to outline the setting for a book. Write a brief paragraph (5-6 sentences) introducing the setting of a story. It can be a place you have been before, or something completely made up! Draw a picture of your setting using the paragraph you wrote, and submit both together.