Setting and mood

People often use adjectives, or describing words, to identify a mood.

Which adjective best describes this man's mood?

Which of the following examples shows a negative mood?

Stuart and his family sat glued to their seats in anxious anticipation. They could hardly believe that Anna had been chosen to be a contestant on a reality show! Anna had made it to the final elimination. Would she win? Stuart nervously tapped his foot. "Shhh, everybody!" his father urged. "The show's about to start." The room fell quiet as everyone eyed the TV.

Select the words that best describe the mood.

Princess Rose lived in a magnificent castle high in the mountains. This morning, she and her father, the king, strolled through the sunny countryside and marveled at the beautiful landscape. The colorful flowers waved in the light breeze, and the birds chirped happily as father and daughter sauntered around the bend.

What mood does this description help to create?

Grida stumbled as he trudged wearily around the side of the gray mountain. The rain pounded him like thick, icy nails. As he looked up, the sight in front of him twisted his stomach into a knot. His heart pounded like a hammer in his chest: Dagon's castle!

Which words best describe the mood here?

As he entered the apartment, Dwayne shook the snow from his coat. He realized that the apartment was dark. The sound of soft, smooth jazz music drifted soothingly to his ears from an old, beat-up stereo. What was going on?

Which detail creates a romantic mood?

Dana and Chris entered the circus tent. They brushed the sawdust from their seats and sat down as other people came in. When the audience settled down and voices died down to a whisper, the clowns began their act. One by one, six neon-colored clowns climbed into the ring from a tiny, polka-dotted car. Each wore a flexible costume that ballooned out as he or she came into view. Each clown that emerged from the car was larger than the last. Everyone burst into laughter!

Which image creates a light-hearted mood?

The ship bobbed up and down, back and forth, in the stormy sea. Waves crashed over its sides again and again. Some crew members struggled to take down the sails, which flapped uncontrollably in the high wind. Others worked on deck, furiously bailing water over the side to keep the ship afloat.

The setting of this passage creates a mood of—

Which example of imagery would help create a somber, or sad, mood?

It was a new morning. Kathleen got out of bed and stretched as she walked to the window. She looked down at the young, green trees surrounding the garden below. The sun had just come up. The sky was blue, and the air was fresh. Kathleen said to herself, "On a day like this, I'm ready for anything!"

Which detail of the setting does NOT add to the cheerful mood of this passage?

The old house was creaking loudly that night. Shadows of tree branches stretched across the walls of Brandon's room like the fingers of an alien hand. He stared at them for a moment. Then, with a shudder, he hid his head under the covers.

Which word best captures the overall mood of this passage?

The bells in the old tower continued to echo through the rainy morning. Their ringing sounded like shouts of "Guilty!" to Leah."If only they would stop!" she thought wildly. She pressed her hands to her ears, trying to block out the sound. It seemed, however, that the bells were growing louder than ever! Leah suddenly screamed, "Someone help me—please!"

The mood of the selection is created through the image of—

Which of the following words best describes a creepy abandoned house?

What type of setting is often associated with peace and tranquility?

Which of the following words helps establish a gloomy mood?

What element is commonly used to create a mysterious setting?

What is a characteristic of a creepy abandoned house?

Which of the following is a peaceful natural setting?

What is a common feature of a gloomy mood?

What is often used to create a mysterious setting in literature?

What is a characteristic of a peaceful natural setting?

What is a common element in establishing a gloomy mood?

Which description of a setting would best create a mood of loneliness for a story?

If that passage below were set at Lena's birthday party, what could you infer?

Lena laughed loudly. "I can't believe you did that!" she said, smiling.

In the passage below, what can you infer about Randolph using clues from the setting?

One summer day, Randolph the Bright slept alone in his room in the castle at Reddington. The light of the morning seeped slowly through his curtains. Randolph blinked against the day, smiling as his dream came to a peaceful conclusion.

Why is the setting important in a story?

Setting is defined as the _______and _______ of the story.