Narrative Theory

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Narrative Theory

• Functions of Setting

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Based on work by

• Jack Sharpe
• Stanton College Preparatory School
• Jacksonville, FL
• http//www.geocities.com/sharpej/flibslit/outline
  3.html

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What are the functions of setting?

• Least Active
• Most Active

• Background
• Mood
• Characterization
• Symbolic
• Sympathetic
• Supernatural
• Actant

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Background
Provides a stage for the action
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Background

• Adds nothing of significance to rhetorical
  purpose
• Serves as the stage on which the action occurs
• A common feature of non-literary texts

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Mood
Sets the tone for a given scene
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Mood

• Easy to identify
• Not as important as many people expect it to be
• Does occur in literary texts
• DONT stop looking when you find this!

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Characterization
Tells us something about a character's nature
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Characterization

• Provides useful insight into characters
  qualities
• Can be contrived by author, narrator, or
  character
• A common feature of literary textslook for this!

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Symbolic
Represents action in physical form
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Symbolic

• The physical layout of a setting may reflect
  social relationships.

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Symbolic

• The setting may represent a change in a
  situation.

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Sympathetic
Responds to emotional/intellectual state in
character
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Sympathetic
CAUSES

• Easy to confuse with Mood
• Look for CAUSAL relationship (setting changes
  after or with character mood!)

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Supernatural
Influences the action
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Supernatural

• Takes a role in shaping the direction of the
  actionNo WILL.
• Either enables a character to take an intended
  action or
• Disables a character from taking an intended
  action

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Actant
Setting Acts as A Character
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Actant

• Takes an ACTIVE role in either aiding a character
  to take or blocking a character from taking an
  intended actionacts out of will.
• Most commonly encountered in fantasy stories or
  mythology.

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What are the functions of setting?

• Least Active
• Most Active

• Background
• Mood
• Characterization
• Symbolic
• Sympathetic
• Supernatural
• Actant

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• Presentation prepared by
• Carolyn P. Henly
• Meadowbrook High School
• 4901 Cogbill Rd.
• Richmond, VA 23234
• Carolyn_Henly_at_comcast.net

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The End