The primary purpose of many novels is to entertain the reader.

1. As part of English, we are required to study novels, poems and short stories. Many people bemoan the fact that we can’t just read the novel once and be done with it; that is, read it, use it for entertainment and move on to the next book. So, why do we need to ‘study’ the novel?

2. The primary purpose of many novels is to entertain the reader. • The first time we read a novel we are transported into the world created by the author. • We are not conscious of the way in which the author has created the fictional world filled with characters we begin to care about. • Instead, we are spellbound, just as the author wanted us to be.

3. As students of literature it is our job to figure out the authors tricks. • Tricks is another way of saying ‘developing analytical and close reading skills’ • Why do we need to develop these skills? What benefit will they be to us in the ‘real world’?

4. Analytical and close reading skills are used in all fields • it makes engineers better problem solvers • lawyers better advocates and courtroom practitioners • politicians better rhetoricians • marketing and advertising agents better sellers • citizens more aware consumers

5. So, we look at all elements of a novel to discover the tricks. • What are the elements we study in a novel? • Setting • Characters • Plot • Theme • Atmosphere • Language or style

6. Despite the fact that we look at each of these elements separately, it is important to remember that none of them operate in isolation. • Each influences the other and is in turn a part of the whole • For example, the setting affects the characters, or the atmosphere is created through language.

7. Setting • What does the term setting refer to? • Setting refers to the time, place and social background in a text. • Social background refers to what is occuring in society during the period in which the text is set.

8. Setting is hugely important in a novel, so much so that there is often an exam question in the final exam. • Why is the setting important? • It can shape characters • It can shape events • It can create mood

9. Re-read chapters one and two • Find all the details related to the setting-focus on time and place • Write out the details you consider to be important in your books using quotes from the text. Make sure you include a page number

10. In the introduction, the setting is used to create mood or atmosphere. • What does mood or atmosphere refer to? • The feeling created by the author • How do authors create mood? • Through word choice and the use of figurative language

11. Have another look at the quotes you selected about setting from the introduction. • Highlight all the quotes that you think contribute to or establish the mood • Complete the exercise at the bottom of page 55

12. Summarise in one sentence the overall mood created by the description of the setting in the introduction. • Choose two quotes about the setting • Identify language features used in the quote and their effect. How does the language feature contribute to the mood?