Setting The location and time of a story is what we call setting. Setting is vital because the physical details of time and place often have metaphorical value. That is, the setting is associated with values, ideals, attitudes, and beliefs. Setting reflects character and embodies theme. Now , the journey up river is a journey to the most primitive and dark side of humanity.
Setting can also convey the emotional or psychological state of characters.
For example, the collapse of Roderick Usher s house coincides with the final stages of his insanity, as well as the annihilation of his posterity. Put another way, setting can be the external manifestation of inner realities. Point of View Point of view refers to how the story is told. A story can be told by a distant third person, a mere observer who may or may not have privileged access to characters thoughts and feelings. We call this kind of a narrator an omniscient or limited omniscient narrator, depending on how much they know about the characters.