Home > Subjects > English > English level 3 > 3.3 Shakespeare > Subject content > Setting and context
- Subject: English
- AS: 90722
- Level: 3
- Credits: 3
- External
3.3 Respond critically to Shakespearean drama studied
Setting and context
The setting is where and when the text takes place and context is the situation or circumstances in which the events occur. There could be several important settings within your text. Think about where the main action takes place by describing the country, region, city, town, village, or building. Think about when the main action takes place by describing the time period or era, political, economic, and/or historical context. All this gives the audience an understanding of how the setting and context is like a backdrop influencing the events, characters, atmosphere, and themes of a text by highlighting certain beliefs and values of that society.
It is important to have some background knowledge on Elizabethan society to help understand the values, attitudes, and beliefs Shakespeare and his audience brought to each play.
Key points to study
- Select 1–3 important settings from the text and answer the following:
- How and why the setting changes in the text?
- How does the setting influence a character's feelings, actions and relationships?
- Identify and explain the techniques used to describe the mood and atmosphere of the setting.
- How can the setting represent or symbolise an idea?
- How does the context challenge the values and beliefs of the reader?
- Ways to study the setting:
- Outline – the main setting, including important physical details, write quotes with descriptive detail, and how the character reacts to their surroundings.
- Positive and negative – chart the benefits and restrictions, limits and freedom the context has on the main character.
- Chart – how the setting changes from the beginning, middle, and end of the text. How does setting effect the main character’s development?
See Setting for an example of how setting relates to other parts of the text.
Other keywords for setting and context: time, era, period of time, location, social factors, historical details, political influence, situation, circumstances, place.
