At the most basic level, the setting of a story is the where and the when events happen. A story’s setting may be either general or specific. In “Lullaby” by Leslie Marmon Silko, the story is mostly general. We know, through context clues, that the story takes place in the American Southwest sometime in the 1970s. In “Lullaby” it’s also important and useful to think about the setting as the land that Ayah inhabits. As you review the story, consider how her memories are intertwined with and emerge during her contemplation of what we might refer to as the natural world. Also of note is that time is cyclic in the story. The story ends where it begins. You might think about why this understanding and use of time matters with regard to the setting and the central idea.Please note that A level work will go far beyond merely identifying the where and when the story takes place. For instance, inside the bar is one setting in the story. Why it is important and how it has relevance to the central idea is an entirely different matter that requires the reader to move from passive to critical consumption of the story. Critically analyzing textual evidence, in this case direct quotes, is how you move from a passive to an active reader. The setting also includes the conditions: the physical, emotional, economic, political, social and psychological environment inhabited by the characters. This understanding of setting is perhaps even more important when thinking about “Lullaby.” The story examines what happens to indigenous people under colonialism. The physical, emotional, political, social, and psychological environment that Ayah inhabits has been shaped by colonialism. Her young children are stolen from her, her eldest son, Jimmy, dies in a colonial war, most likely Vietnam, her partner is exploited and discarded when he can no longer provide labor for the rancher. All of these events, the dissolution of her family, are a result of colonialism. When thinking about a central idea for the story, consider the role that the oral tradition and a sacred connection to land play in offering some form of resistance to colonialism. The example of the oral tradition in “Lullaby” is the song Ayah sings at the end of the story. Think about the lyrics and how they relate to setting and Ayah’s connection to the setting and her understanding of time…For language devices, there are plenty to choose from. Some of the most prominent language devices used in the story are imagery, symbolism, and figurative language. Whichever language devices you choose to write about, remember that you need to identify three different devices and your analysis needs to explain how the language devices help shape and support your central idea statement. You’re not trying to prove that a simile is a simile; you’re making an argument about how a specific simile helps Silko create the central idea.For your final paragraph on tone, you need to clearly state the tone in a topic sentence. Use the word “tone.” Be specific. You should make a case for how Silko creates the tone. Remember that tone refers to the mood of the story as a whole.Only source
