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made them strong in spirit and fortunate in wives. He himself had three horses and no
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war. wives. His animals were puny, not a blackhorn
CLOSE READING Not so lucky was White Man’s Dog. He had runner among them. He owned a musket and no
little to show for his eighteen winters. His father, powder and his animal helper was weak.
Ask small groups of students to create a Rides-at-the-door, had many horses and three 1986
Venn diagram to compare and contrast Analyzing Short Fiction
the characterization of the father vs. the
characterization of White Man’s Dog. Then, Setting
ask them to identify how these contrasts
highlight the cultural norms, biases, and On a literal level, setting indicates the time and place, or the when and where, of a
assumptions about men in his culture. literary text. This physical sense of time and place also contributes to the tone, mood,
and meaning of a literary work. Writer Eudora Welty described setting as “the named,
© Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. For review purposes only. Do not distribute.
identified, concrete, exact and exacting, and therefore credible, gathering spot of all
that has been felt, is about to be experienced.” Writer and retired musician Marcia
Butler likened setting to the “bedrock” or “harmony” of a narrative, on top of which
“characters or soloists of the story will be maneuvered.” Writer Alice McDermott
explained the relationship between setting and meaning in literature very succinctly:
“setting illuminates character, not the other way around.” All of these explanations of
setting are valid.
Setting also includes such objective facts as the community and nation, date and
CLOSE READING
time, and weather and season in which the story occurs. If events occur on a dark and
Review the seasons exercise in the stormy night, we can reasonably expect a dark and stormy tale. If the action opens on a
“Differentiation: Inquiry” note on p. 2. spring morning in a sunlit meadow, it is likely the author is preparing us for a lighter tale.
Ask students how their perception of The author may also contrast the character’s emotions and the setting or even establish
seasons has changed in “The First Day,” a contrast between different settings in the story. In order to understand how setting
a bildungsroman. What is the significance relates to the short story as a whole, you will have to consider the significance of
of seasons in Fools Crow? This activity elements that might at first seem merely physical and objective. For example, a story
may be completed as a whole class or in that takes place as winter transitions into spring could signify new beginnings. The most
small groups. important thing is that you pay attention to the details — the sights and sounds, textures
and tones, colors and shapes — because they will convey more about the setting than
just when and where the story takes place.
The setting of “The First Day” is a poor neighborhood of Washington, D.C., and
DIFFERENTIATION we’re given details about the school the mother wants her daughter to attend — the
school that is directly across from her church. Why is the proximity of the church
Connections to World important to the setting? What do these details reveal about the mother and her
Ask students to review a list of value values? The narrator tells us that the church is very important to her mother — it is her
words specifically associated with Baptist “rock” — so it’s clear the mother wants the daughter to go to the nearby school because
churches, such as the one found in this it is familiar and in a community she trusts. The physical details of both schools in the
short story. How might these values be story contribute somewhat to the setting, too, because while Seaton Elementary is
connected to the significance of the setting older and worn down, the newer looking exterior of Walker-Jones Elementary appeals
of the school that was close to the church? to the daughter. What, then, does the daughter’s perception of the schools convey
Students may share these observations in about the communities and their inhabitants’ circumstances? We might read these
small groups or with the whole class.

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DIFFERENTIATION
Inquiry
Ask students to research lists of value words. their observations electronically through Padlet
Then, in small groups, have them identify or Google Jamboard in order to provide links
the values associated with each geographic to businesses or advertisements associated
setting — urban, rural, or suburban areas. with these businesses, or in person on large
What are stores, businesses, etc., that are Post-its or using the TRM document.
typically found in each setting? Students may
also wish to research the values associated TRM Graphic Organizer
with specific businesses within these A graphic organizer for this activity can be
neighborhoods. Students may wish to share found in the Teacher’s Resource Materials.

8 chapter 1 / Analyzing Short Fiction

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