SF2 - Lesson: The Function of Setting

A large house on a country estate on a foggy day.The Function of Setting

In addition to character archetypes, the setting in literature often serves as an archetype, embodying symbolic elements that contribute to the overall meaning of the narrative. Whether a vibrant city, a mysterious forest, or a desolate landscape, the chosen setting becomes a metaphorical backdrop that shapes characters and events, influencing the story's themes and atmosphere. In this way, the setting functions as more than a physical backdrop, becoming a literary archetype that adds depth and significance to the narrative.

Setting Archetypes - Examples from Disney

Let’s take examples from three Disney stories to see how setting archetypes play a significant role in shaping the narrative and contributing to the overall magical atmosphere.

  • For instance, in Beauty and the Beast, the enchanted castle serves as a setting archetype representing isolation and transformation, reflecting the Beast's internal journey and the theme of inner beauty.
  • The underwater kingdom of Atlantica in The Little Mermaid serves as another setting archetype, symbolizing both the allure and challenges of the unknown, as Ariel ventures beyond her familiar world to pursue her dreams.

The African Pride Lands in The Lion King embody the archetype of the natural realm in balance, disrupted by Scar's tyranny, showcasing the interconnectedness of characters and the consequences of imbalance in the circle of life.

13 Common Setting Archetypes

The following is an incomplete list of common setting archetypes (courtesy of The Sarcastic Muse). Can you think of others?

  1. The Underworld: the location where the protagonist confronts fear and/or death
  2. The Threshold: the location that begins the protagonist’s transformation and growth
  3. The Castle: this location has several facets:
    • may hold a quest item, like a princess or treasure
    • may represent a place of safety
    • may serve as a place of bewitchment or enchantment
  4. The Tower: this location may represent two different facets:
    • may be a place where evil or something sinister resides
    • may have the protagonist or another character locked away from society, where society can be viewed through a small, inescapable window
  5. The River: the location defines and represents the flow of time
  6. The Forest / Wilderness / Space: the location represents a place where rules do not apply and characters are free to run wild.
  7. The Garden: this location represents a place of harmony with innocence, nature, imagination, and/or fertile growth
  8. The Wastelands: this location represents discord, poison, loneliness, despair, and/or the lack of growth
  9. The Labyrinth: the location may represent a point of great uncertainty or it may serve as a quest for the protagonist to find the “monster” within himself or herself
  10. The Winding Stairs: this location may represent either:
    • a difficult and long descent into the dark unknown
    • a treacherous ascent to paradise/heaven
  11. The Crossroads: this location either:
    • defines suffering
    • forces a character to make a decision / identifies the need for a decision
  12. The Desert: this location represents “the lonely quest” or it may represent purity and solitude
  13. The Sea: this location may represent:
    • good and evil at the same time, for the location can be filled with treasures and danger
    • infinity/eternity

Practice Activity

Let's do another analysis of the setting, similar to what we did with character.

As we applied the character archetypes to “Hills Like White Elephants,” and “The Yellow Wallpaper,” we can do the same with setting archetypes. Remember that identifying the archetype is important, but that exploring how the mood and atmosphere of the setting interact and affect the central character is more important.

Below is a set of flashcards with a setting on the front. Before you turn over the card, write in your notes what you think the appropriate archetype or archetypes for that character would be. Check your answer by turning to the back of the card for a sample answer and analysis.

Remember that the answers below are suggestions—you may come up with another archetype and be able to support it. As you continue to develop an understanding of complexity, you should notice that sometimes you can take a typically positive or negative archetype and make it the opposite. For example, the “evil sidekick,” “reformed villain,” or even an “anti-hero” all show complexity and depth to your analysis.

Reflection

Understanding setting archetypes is a valuable tool for literary analysis. Examining the symbolic significance of settings in stories, such as enchanted castles, underwater kingdoms, or balanced natural realms in Disney tales, can deepen your comprehension of the narrative. By recognizing how these settings influence characters and themes, you'll gain insights that contribute to a more nuanced and meaningful interpretation of literature.

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The archetype list Links to an external site. was created by a group of authors who created a blog called The Sarcastic Muse. It is republished here under the permissions granted via their Creative Commons license (CC 3.0 unported).