Setting is important because it helps us visualize where the characters “live” in the stories we read. It’s also important because it gives us a head start in understanding the plot and making predictions about events in stories.

As you read, ask yourself questions about the author. Why did he or she choose the places and the time periods of the story? If you can answer those questions, you are helping yourself have a better and deeper understanding of the stories and novels you read.

Images used in this section:

Source: Corps honors 150 Anniversary with canoe voyage down Upper Mississippi River, St. Paul District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Flickr

Source: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, Project Gutenberg