Setting in a Novel

What is the setting? 

What evidence can you collect from your book that lets you know what the time and place are for the book? 

Remember that setting includes both time and place.  

For example: The Outsiders
Place:  Our Universe, Our solar system, Earth, North America, United States of America, the state of Oklahoma (or a state very much like it), Tulsa (or a town very like it), various places in and not too far from the town -- a long ride away on a train, yet the nearest hospital is in the town : a movie theater, a route from the theater to the Curtis home, the Curtis home, a route to the drive-in movie theater including a drive-up cafe and a drugstore, the drive-in movie theater,  the seats in front of the concession stand at the drive-in, the route between the drive-in movie theater and Two-Bit's home, etc. 

Time: The twentieth century, 1960's, autumn?, most of the actions takes place within two weeks, the action takes place during the school year. 

Some Points about setting: 

Setting includes both place and time. 

Setting can be macro --  the very large and general.
Setting can be micro -- the very small and specific. 
Setting can include 
      the era, the year, the season, the month, the time of day, etc. 
      Time setting can change as the story progresses.   
      The most -macro usually stays the same.
Setting can include the general location and very specific locations.
      Place setting can change as the story progresses.   
       The most -macro usually stays the same.  

What influence does the setting have 

on the characters and plot?

Think about  your own Setting:  How does the time and place you live in influence who you are and what conflicts (problems) you experience?  How would you and your life be different if you lived in a different time and place? 

Notice how setting influences the characters in your book:

1. How they live? (food, clothes, housing, daily life, etc.)
2. How they see the world?
3. How they speak?
4. How they act? 
5. How they solve their problems? 

To help you think about setting and how it influences characters and plot, think about this story: 

This book is too "young" for you to use for your project, but most of you know the story, so it provides a place to start thinking about setting. 

What about  the Frozen Junior Novelization  by R.H. Disney?

About the Setting:  (Think about how you would finish this.)
The story is set in a cold country like Norway.  It is in a medieval-type time setting because they have kings and queens and castles, and no modern technology or transportation.
The characters live in a cold climate where ice and snow are a real danger, but which they have adjusted to and learned to survive in. However, when magic turns their country colder (changing the setting), everyone is endangered. 

About how the setting influences characters and plot: 
The characters and plot would  be different if set in a warmer climate.  Some of the characters wouldn't be there at all.  There would not be a reindeer or a snowman.    The magic would have to be different.  I'm not sure what power the "Elsa" character could have in  a different setting.  Her uncontrolled power to create coldness and ice (and how she feels about that power, and how other people react when they find out about that power) also create much of the conflict in the story. 
   . . .   It is because the story is set in a country very like Norway that the trolls  (characters in Norwegian legends) are in the story.  (Think about how you would finish this. How does the setting influence the characters and plot?)