3. SettingSetting
Details that describe:Details that describe:
FurnitureFurniture
SceneryScenery
CustomsCustoms
TransportationTransportation
ClothingClothing
DialectsDialects
WeatherWeather
Time of dayTime of day
Time of yearTime of year
Time and place are where the actionTime and place are where the action
occursoccurs
4. Elements of a SettingElements of a Setting
Setting
Place
Atmosphere
Time
History
EraLife
Mood
Weather
Feelings
Word
Choice
Location
Physical
Day
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5. The Functions of a SettingThe Functions of a Setting
To create a mood or atmosphere
To show a reader a different way of life
To make action seem more real
To be the source of conflict or struggle
To symbolize an idea
6. Setting
•Setting in a short story refers to the place or
geographical location where
the story takes place.
•Setting also relates to a particular time that is
referred in the story.
•Setting includes the environment or physical space,
the atmosphere or situation that causes an event to
take place, and the socio-cultural contexts of the
people involved or portrayed in the story.
7. Setting Of The Rain God
The story “Looking for A Rain God” is set in
the village of Kgotla and the
surrounding areas, Africa. The story is set in
the periods before and after
1958. Before 1958, the land is rich with trees,
flowing plants and vegetation.
Wild figs and berries are available to be
plucked as and when the needs
arise.
9. Types of CharactersTypes of Characters
People or animals
Major characters
Minor characters
Round characters
Flat characters
10. CharacterizationCharacterization A writer reveals what a character is likeA writer reveals what a character is like
and how the character changes throughoutand how the character changes throughout
the story.the story.
Factors in AnalyzingFactors in Analyzing
CharactersCharacters
Physical appearance of character
Personality
Background/personal history
Motivation
Relationships
Conflict
11. Characters
The main character in the short story is
Mokgobja who is than seventy years
old. The other characters (minor) are:
- Ramadi
- Tiro
- Nesta
- Neo
- Boseyong
13. Ramadi
- unrealistic/impractical (down-to-earth)
- disheartened
- conspirator/ accomplice (in murdering the two
children)
- inhuman
- irrational
- determined
- sensitive
- desperate
- easily to be convinced or influenced
14. Tiro
- unsympathetic
- impractical
- inhuman
- unwise
- not assertive, emotional
- disillusioned
- determine
- guilt-conscious
- easily to be convinced or influence
15. Nesta
- unsympathetic
- impractical
- inhuman, conspirator in murder
- unwise
- not assertive/ follows blindly/ emotional
- disillusioned/ feels despair/ feels desperate
- determined
- selfish, self-centred
- easily to be convinced or influenced
16. Neo and Boseyong
- innocent, naïve
- playful
- childish
- happy
- excited
- obedient
- living in their own child-world
17. PlotPlot
Plot is what happens and how itPlot is what happens and how it
happens in a narrative. Ahappens in a narrative. A
narrative is any work that tells anarrative is any work that tells a
story, such as a short story, astory, such as a short story, a
novel, a drama, or a narrativenovel, a drama, or a narrative
poem.poem.
18. Parts of a PlotParts of a Plot
Inciting incident – event that gives rise to
conflict (opening situation)
Development- events that occur as result of
central conflict (rising action)
Climax- highest point of interest or
suspense of story
Resolution- when conflict ends
Denouement- when characters go back to
their life before the conflict
19. Diagram of PlotDiagram of Plot
Inciting incident/
Opening situation
Introduction
Development/
RisingAction
Climax
Resolution
Denouement
20. Special Techniques ofSpecial Techniques of
PlotPlotSuspense- excitement or tension
Foreshadowing- hint or clue about what will
happen in story
Flashback- interrupts the normal sequence of
events to tell about something that happened
in the past
Surprise Ending- conclusion that reader does
not expect
21. Plot
Exposition
The story unfolds with the description of the land
which is fertile and rich before 1958. The people
enjoy the fertile land and water is available at
various places for them to quench their thirst. The
land is filled with trees,
flowing plants and vegetations. Wild figs and berries
are available to be plucked as and when the needs
arise. But all this changes after 1958, as a seven-
year drought hits the land.
22. The landscape, which looks green and fertile,
changes forms to become an open dry-land
and the places providing water vanish. The
land transforms into thorny bushes, withering
trees and the grounds are barren. The seven
year drought changes everything, rain
becomes a rarity.
23. The Rising Action Stage
The people experience the real torture of drought.
With no rain the air becomes dry and moisture-less,
burning the skin. There is no way of escaping from the
intense heat. The people hope for a good down pour,
but
only slight rain comes in November. It helps loosen up
the earth and then the rain is gone. The sun is cruel and
each day passes with the sun sucking up the moisture
from the earth and leaves it moisture-less. Mokgobja,
Ramadi, Tiro and Nesta are affected by the prolonged
dry spell.
24. They feel despair and become desperate with
the fear of starvation and the rain not falling.
The emotional intensity builds and the
womenfolk let out the signs of coming to their
breaking-point. The men are affected by the
wailing and actions of the two women
Mokgobja recalls an ancient act to make the rain
fall. He manages to
convince the others of the effect of the ritual
and rain will fall. The others agree with him.
25. ConflictConflict Conflict is a struggle between opposing forcesConflict is a struggle between opposing forces
Every plot must contain some kind of conflictEvery plot must contain some kind of conflict
Stories can have more than one conflictStories can have more than one conflict
Conflicts can be external or internalConflicts can be external or internal
External conflictExternal conflict- outside force may be person, group,- outside force may be person, group,
animal, nature, or a nonhuman obstacleanimal, nature, or a nonhuman obstacle
Internal conflictInternal conflict- takes place in a character’s mind- takes place in a character’s mind
Conflict in the story
They perform the ritual and the two children are
sacrificed. Their bodies are spread across the
land.
26. Falling action stage
There is still no rain. At night there is total
silence. During the day, the sun reigns to blaze
and devour heat. The family decides to return to
the village. The villagers suspect something is
wrong as the two girls are missing. The
family tells them that the two girls have died.
However, the villagers are not convinced.The
police question the family members. The
mother of the two children is not able to hold
on any more and tells the truth. They have
sacrificed the two little girls to the rain god.
27. Ending
Ramadi and Mokgobja are both charged and
sentenced to death for committing ritual murder.
They have to face the consequences of their
actions.
28. ThemeTheme
A central message, concern, or insight
into life expressed through a literary
work
Can be expressed by one or two
sentence statement about human
beings or about life
May be stated directly or implied
Interpretation uncovers the theme
29. •Humanity
•Humanity is about caring for one another, and
protecting the innocent from troubles and
dangers. Humanity is against the killing of
children or any person. Human sacrifice is the
thing of the past and is not practical in modern
times, as there is law and order. Moreover, it is
morally and legally wrong to kill someone.
Human rights and laws provide for the
protection of children and individuals. There is
no excuse to kill others in the name of sacifice.
30. •Life is precious
The theme also deals with suicide and tribal
murder.The moral issue on the life is no one has
the right to take his or her life.Life is the gift of
the God and it is precious.In the story,two men
murder two kids in the ritual to please the rain
god.The value of life is discussed as a theme in
the story.
Theme
31. Moral Values
It is important to be practical and act rationally .
The story teaches us to be practical and learn to solve
problems carefully.There is a need for us to be
realistic in life. It is important for a person to be
able to handle situations even under trying
conditions. This is the reality ofliving in a society. In
the story, the adults are not practical and act
irrationally. They think it is fine to kill the two
innocent children. Mokgobja is over seventy years old
and decides to take the lives of the two children to
make the rain fall and for the adults to continue
living. There is a need for
us to find solutions to problems by thinking rationally
and practically.
32. It is important to appreciate the gift of life
The story teaches us to appreciate the gift of life. The gift
of life is divine. As humans we have a moral obligation to
protect life and not to end it by
committing suicide. It is also against the law to take one’s
life or to kill others. In the story, two innocent and
precious lives are lost because of an irrational act of
sacrificing children. It is also a brutal act. Life is too
precious. Mokgobja and Ramadi are sentenced to death
for murdering the two children. The sentence is a stern
reminder to others that it is against the
law to carry out cold blooded murder in the pretext of
tribal customs, rituals and cultural practices. The story
teaches us to appreciate the gift of life.
33. Language
The writer uses a narrative style to tell the
story. The writer uses the narrative style to
share the experiences the characters
undergo. The writer uses language and
other literary elements or devices
effectively. The other literary devices or
elements are imagery, symbolism, irony
and figurative language
34. IMAGERY
Imagery is chosen words or phrases that
involve our five senses. These words and
phrases give us a picture-like experience in
our mind. The writer also uses words that
work on the five senses of the readers. This
provides a
wholesome experience to the readers. In
“Looking for a Rain God” the sense of sight,
the sense of hearing and the sense of touch,
are clearly notable through the use of words
and phrase.
35. Sense of hearing
The writer uses words and phrases that refer
to sound such as rain, hear the proclamation,
insect singing, rustling, chattered, soft tones,
scolded, high- pitched wailing, low mournful
note, frenzy, whispering, deathly silence,
murmur, and broke down. These words make
the readers experience the events in the story
in specific contexts.
