What You Need to Know

Key Concept Diagram

A setting is the time and place in which a story happens

Descriptive language including adjectives and sensory details brings a setting to life

The setting can affect the mood and atmosphere of a story

Writers use all five senses — sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste — to describe a place

Key Vocabulary

Setting

The time and place where a story takes place

Descriptive language

Words and phrases that paint a detailed picture of something

Atmosphere

The mood or feeling created by the setting in a story

Sensory detail

Description that appeals to one of the five senses

Knowledge Check

Select the correct answer for each question. Click "Check Answer" to see if you are right.

Question 1

What is the "setting" of a story?

The time and place where the story happens The problem the main character faces The ending of the story The characters in the story

Question 2

Which phrase best adds sensory detail to a setting description?

The dog went outside. The icy wind bit at her cheeks and snow crunched underfoot. It was a cold day. There was a forest nearby.

Question 3

How does the setting affect a story?

It tells us the main character's name. It tells us the theme of the story. It creates the mood and can influence characters' actions. It gives the solution to the problem.

Story Setting