Five Main Functions of Setting

Eccleston

Kade Eccleston

English III CP

Mrs. Corah

December 7, 2015

Five main functions of Setting

Setting is a key function in storytelling, it includes the time and location of where a story takes place. the setting of a story can change the overall ambiance and general aura a film, in the case of the 1960 movie “The Fall of the House of Usher” based on Edgar Allen Poe’s short story of a tainted family line of evil Usher's. One of the two last living Ushers; Roderick Usher wants to end his family line by keeping his sister Madeline Usher and himself locked up in the family manor until it crumbles. Madeline Usher's betrothed; Philip Winthrop comes to take her back to boston but is confronted with her crazy brother; Roderick, the creepy butler; Bristol, and an evil house that tries to murder him. The setting is the most crucial part of the Fall of The House of Usher, by setting an ominous ambiance and by creating conflict in numerous situations. When it comes to the storytelling of the setting, there are five main functions of setting and includes, Creates Atmosphere, provides background for action, reveals character, acts as an antagonist and re enforces theme. Creates atmosphere, reveals character and acts as an antagonist are the most crucial functions of setting in this film.

Creates Atmosphere is the first function of setting that plays a very important part in the film, creates atmosphere is just the technical term for setting the mood for a story. When they first introduce the Usher mansion, Philip Winthrop rides in on a horse through a arid, densely wooded area cloaked in a heavy fog. The camera slowly moves to show the ill lit, gothic looking Usher Estate. Right off the bat without any dialogue, just the appearance of the surrounding area gives you a chilling feeling about the action to come. When Philip enters the Usher Estate, there is barely any light and the walls are covered in disturbing artwork, further setting in that ominous feeling. When the setting is used to create atmosphere it plays a very important part of the story.

If a story uses the setting correctly it can help introduce a character's personality perfectly into a story, this function of setting is called Revealing Character. for example In Fall of the House of Usher when Roderick talks about the many dangers of being in the house, like developing heightened senses, and the giant ravine in the side of the Usher Estate that could cause the house to collapse any minute. Roderick does