Clue 4

Setting and Characterisation

Who is a “character” in your real life (a real-life person) you admire? Why do you admire this person? (Be specific and name the traits you admire)

There is a woman whom I met just over a year ago who has touched my heart and taught me things I never imagined I would learn. She is a teacher at our school; my teacher in fact. Though she is relatively young, she is wise, and I really appreciate her input into my life and my heart. One of the things that I really admire about her character is her non-judgmental manner. She is so open minded and never has a bad word to say about anyone. Other characteristics that I like in her include her fun loving, but responsible outlook on life, and her joy into the development of my own spiritual life. I love the way that I can just sit down with her and have a ‘philosophical conversation” (as we call them), about life in general and get so much fun and knowledge out of it. I like how she challenges and develops my mind and beliefs, but she supports me whenever I need it. One of the best things about her is how great a listener she is, and how she is always ready to lend an ear!

What Clues do Setting and Characterization Offer?

1. What specific clues can setting reveal about the theme of a short story?

Setting can be very important to revealing theme to any reader. The setting provides a lot of background information, especially about the characters. The characters are usually important to the theme of the story. This is because they are involved in the major conflict, and therefore the climax of the story. If you think about it; the setting provides a basic understanding and enhances comprehension of the entire story. The setting helps to develop the character more, and usually influences the title and conflict in the story; all key components to identifying the theme of a story. On the other hand, ‘theme’ can be defined as a universal truth; therefore, most themes will be applicable to any setting. Therefore the setting does not influence the theme so much as helps define it.

2. How does an author drop clues about characters and how their actions lead to the theme of a story?

An author drops clues about a characters influence to theme through dialogue, insight into the characters minds, their actions, and both direct and indirect characterization. The character’s speech and thought process often give you many things to think about, sometimes even stating the theme in an indirect or direct manner. The actions that the characters take reflect their thought processes, their position or part in the story and their place in the conflict. Their place in the conflict almost always influences their part in the theme. Therefore, main characters in a story usually greatly influence the theme. Though the main character’s characterization is usually more developed, even minor characters can play a part in the theme of the story.

3. What is the strongest setting you have ever encountered in you own life (the place that has impacted your life the most). Describe this place and ponder if God revealed anything about Himself or His truth in this place.

The strongest setting I have ever encountered would have to have been Oribi Gorge in South Africa. About an hour away from the city Durban, this gorge by far the most beautiful places I have ever seen in my life, but it was also in this place that God taught me some valuable lessons about His awesome power and might. Over hanging this gorgeous gorge, there was a series of cables and pulley’s that made up Oribi Gorge Swing, the largest gorge swing in the world. Attached to a couple of thick bungee cords around their waist, game people plunged over the edge of a waterfall and fell 100 meters freefall into the gorge below. Being deathly afraid of heights, I automatically wrote it off and was content to watch my two younger sisters, fearless, jump off the rocky ledge to their potential death. But when the time came to pay for the tickets, my parents asked me whether I wanted to jump, I felt this voice deep inside of me urging to give it a go, and without thinking, I blurted out a “yes”. They were utterly taken aback, and so was I, but I heard this voice inside of me telling me that I should not be afraid, that God would be with me, and that whatever happened was included in His plan for me. So I harnessed up and sat on the ledge and waited for my turn, not knowing what was in store for me or whether I would even be able to sum up the courage to jump; but I laid my worries on Him and did not think about it. Next thing I knew I had dived off the cliff and was falling, freefall through the air faster that I could fathom. At the bottom, I began to put pressure on the cord and it swung back and forth in the air as I feasted my eyes on the sights which beheld me. It was by far the most amazing view of my whole entire life, and it humbled me to see the greatness, but beauty of God’s creation all around me. I was in tears, because of the incredible, indescribably view, and how it brought me closer to understanding the greatness of my incredible, indescribable God.