“20th Century Ghost” – Joe Hill
Study Booklet
“20th Century Ghost”
Joe Hill
Short Story Unit
Revision Guide, Quote Book and Revision Questions
Name: ____________________________________
2
Alright lads and ladies, welcome to the ultimate guide to Joe Hill’s
short story “20th Century Ghost”. This little booklet will tell you
everything you need to know and give you some handy revision
tips and tricks. Let’s get started:
Summary:
“20th Century Ghost” by Joe Hill is a short story about a haunted movie theatre
called The Rosebud. The theatre’s owner, Alec, has always been obsessed
with the ghost, Imogene, and is on the brink of losing the theatre. However,
Imogene reaches out to all the people who have seen her and they come
together to save the Rosebud before Alec passes away.
^^ Remember this and use it in your essay’s introductions^^ If you have a
shorter one, that’s fine but writing “it’s about a ghost” isn’t enough. Aim for
something like the above summary.
Themes:
 Movies/Films/Cinema (however you want to word it)
 Love
 Death
 Nostalgia
 Obsession
These are the big 5 and this is why they are important:
Film is a key theme as the whole story is set in a movie theatre and films are
extremely important to all of the characters. It is what drives them and fills
them with passion. It supports them when they are struggling and they all end
up with jobs relating to film somehow.
Love is important as Alec shows love for 3 people: his brother, Ray; the
ghost, Imogene; and the Rosebud Theatre. He also shows a great love for
film in general. The love for these three things is what encourages him to
keep going. For example, he is at his lowest when he loses his brother, the
person he loved most in the world. He also dies when his love for Imogene
and the theatre is reciprocated (returned), as they kiss during the gala event,
Alec eventually dies.
Death is extremely important as at times this story reads like a ghost story.
Death is an important theme in any ghost story but is hugely important in this
one. Death is seen as a cruel and unfair thing, taking the lives of both
Imogene and Ray without any kind of warning or explanation. However, it
also comes as a release for Alec at the end, as he has nothing left to worry
about and can finally be happy when Imogene and the theatre return to him.
Nostalgia (looking back on fond memories) is a relevant theme, too, as a
huge chunk of the story is written as a flashback, looking back on Alec’s first
sighting of Imogene. The people who call Alec after dreaming about Imogene
also show nostalgia for their time at the theatre and this pushes them to help
Alec. The film shown at the gala (The Wizard of Oz) also represents nostalgia
as it is from the golden age of cinema.
Obsession is also important as Alec is truly obsessed with Imogene. She
and the theatre are all he thinks about. Furthermore, several of the other
characters are obsessed with the movies, too.
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Characterisation - Main Characters:
 Alec Sheldon
 Imogene Gilchrist
 Steven Greenberg
Alec Sheldon is the protagonist of our story. He is the owner of the Rosebud
Theatre and was one of the first to see Imogene Gilchrist. He loves Imogene
and the theatre and is trying his very best to keep both alive. Even though he
knows people lie about seeing her, he doesn’t expose any of the fake stories
about Imogene as that would be bad for business. He is happy for people to
think that the theatre is haunted.
Alec is a proud man who doesn’t like asking for handouts. He also has an
unhealthy obsession with Imogene and this has led to many problems in his
personal life – he is divorced from his wife and lives in the theatre.
During the final sequence, Alec finally gets what he wants – the theatre is a
success, Imogene has returned to him, and he experiences that Hollywood
kiss that he dreamt of back when he was 15. Now that all of his troubles are
gone, he can finally pass on peacefully to be with Imogene forever.
Imogene Gilchrist was obsessed with movies when she was alive. From her
obituary, we learn that she was in many drama/movie clubs at school and that
she could name movies, stars and even one-line-speaking extras.
The beginning of the story tricks us into thinking that she appears all bloody
and causes disaster for those who see her. However, the narrator swiftly
corrects this and we learn that she only appears to those who share her
passion for film. However, the people who see Imogene and speak with her
do see her die each and every time she appears. In traditional ghost stories,
the ghosts tend to recreate their final moments. Imogene is doing the same.
She appears in a film she enjoys and dies before the end. This reflects the
way that she died before the end of “The Wizard of Oz”. So Alec does not
really witness her dying, but see sort of like a rerun of her death. Like Sky+
for the dead.
She seems to look out for Alec and the theatre and reaches out to those who
have seen her when Alec is too proud to. She appears in dreams to each of
those people, urging them to save the Rosebud. When Alec is finally ready to
pass on, Imogene appears to him once more and helps him pass on happily
and peacefully.
Steven Greenberg saw Imogene when he was 12 years old during the film
“The Birds” (Alfred Hitchcock 1963). Steven goes on to become a successful
director, winning Oscars and various other awards. His films feature big stars
like Tom Hanks. The only two characters we see after their encounters with
Imogene are Alec and Steven – the two men who go on to be the owners of
the Rosebud at different times in their lives. Their encounters are very similar
to one another.
Even though Steven has not been back to New England in years, it is clear
that the Rosebud still holds a special place in his heart and he buys it after
Imogene appears to him in a dream. He puts his heart and soul into
renovating the place and returning it to its former glory. Alec passes the torch
onto Steven and it is clear from the gala event that the theatre will be just as
important to him as it was to Alec.
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Setting – The Rosebud Theatre
The story is set almost entirely in and around the Rosebud Theatre. The only
part that is not is when Alec visits Steven on the film set. The theatre is such
an important part of this story that it is close to being considered a main
character. Throughout this story, the theatre is practically dying. Few people
visit it and the multi-screen Cineplex nearby is running the Rosebud out of
business. Alec fears that it will close and Imogene will fade away within its
walls.
Once Steven buys over the Rosebud, it is returned to the way it was when it
was in its prime. Imogene only appears when the cinema is almost full,
showing that she is happiest when the cinema is successful. When she
appears in the final scene, she sits in what is the only empty seat in the
house, showing how popular the theatre has become again.
Narrative Style – Film Script – Post-Modernism
The story is laid out in a very similar way to a film script. In a script,
descriptions (like stage directions in a play) are written in italics and in the
present tense. For example:
Borden and Angier watch Soo being helped down from his
carriage by HANDLERS who treat him with great gentleness.
ANGIER
You're wrong. It can't be.
BORDEN
It is. He carries the bowl between
his
knees
for
the
entire
performance.
ANGIER
But look at the man!
BORDEN
(points)
This is the trick. This is why no
one detects his method.
Soo hobbles into the restaurant, frail, and fragile.
In “20th Century Ghost”, dialogue is not written in speech marks like in any
other short story. Instead, they are written in standard text (no italics) to make
them stand out from the rest of the paragraph. This reflects the section of
script found above.
The only part of the story not laid out like this (in other words, looking like a
regular short story) is the flashback to when Alec first sees Imogene.
By writing his story like this, Hill instantly suggests that his story is going to be
about the movie industry (which it is!). This is an element of the literary period
Hill is writing in – Post-Modernism – where writers are totally aware that what
they are writing is false so reference things related to the content of their work
in order to make it seem more authentic.
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Quotes from “20th Century Ghost”:
The best time to see her is when the place is almost full.
(p.31)
Opening line of story. Hill does not name the ghost yet. Instead he simply
refers to Imogene as “her”. This intrigues the reader and makes them want to
read on and find out who she might be. We do not learn her name until 3
paragraphs later. By referring to Imogene only as “her”, it creates an air of
mystery around her, establishing her as a character who we will never get to
know very well and who will be a mystery to the other characters in the novel,
too. This, therefore, acts as a hook to lure the reader in. As well as acting as
a hook, the first line almost foreshadows the ending as it tells us exactly when
we will see Imogene – “when the place is almost full”. In the final scene, she
is sitting in the only empty seat in the whole theatre. This line also debunks
(proves wrong) all of the fake ghost stories the writer presents to us later in
this page.
Opening Line/Hook
Foreshadowing
Characterisation: Imogene
Genre: Horror (Ghost Story)
Steven was just twelve then, and it would be another twelve years before he
went and got so famous; he was at that time not a golden boy, but just a boy.
(p.32)
Introduction of Steven. Steven’s encounter with Imogene is the first authentic
one we see in the story. This lets the reader see what effect she has on
people. It also establishes Steven as an important character. By referring to
him as “a golden boy”, it suggests that Steven would go on to do great things
in the future and makes the reader curious. Like the introduction of Imogene,
this creates an air of mystery around Steven and forces reader to read on.
Furthermore, this suggests that Steven will reappear later, once he has
become the golden boy. By reflecting back on Steven’s childhood days, this
also links to the theme of Nostalgia.
Characterisation: Steven
Theme: Nostalgia
Alec has been working on a theory of what causes her to show herself. He
has been keeping notes in a yellow legal pad. He has a list of who she
appeared to and in what movie and when (Leland King, Harold and Maude,
’72; Joel Harlowe, Eraserhead, ’76; Hal Lash, Blood Simple, ’84; and all the
others).
(p.33)
The fact that Alec keeps record of when Imogene appears shows how
obsessed he is with her. The fact that he has done his research and has
come to a conclusion also suggests that this is something he has been
working on for a long time. Furthermore, the inclusion of his list gives us a
little example of the list he keeps. So by providing us with some of Alec’s list,
the writer can prove how obsessed Alec is with these sightings of Imogene.
Theme: Obsession
Characterisation: Alec
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…she was his first and most strongly felt obsession.
(p.34)
Here the writer states blatantly that Alec is obsessed with Imogene. Referring
to her as the “first and most strongly felt obsession” also tells us that this isn’t
just a little fad but that this has gone on for a long time and with great
intensity.
Theme: Obsession
Characterisation: Alec
He sees the theatre stripped of its seats, an echoing empty space, drifts of
dust in the corners, petrified wads of gum stuck fast to the cement. Local
teens have broken in to drink and screw; he sees scattered liquor bottles,
ignorant graffiti on the walls, a single, grotesque, used condom on the floor in
front of the stage. He sees the lonely and violated place where she will fade
away.
Or won’t fade…the worst thought of all.
(p.34-35)
All of Alec’s fears are captured in this description. Not only is the theatre
empty and ruined, but Imogene is trapped inside or gone. There is a lot of
violence and horror in the way Hill describes the theatre here. “Violated”
suggests that the building is now being abused by those people who force
their way inside and use it for hedonistic pleasures. There is no care for the
theatre; it is treated like something disposable and without worth. The theme
of death is present here as the theatre itself is left to die and rot.
Alec is afraid that Imogene will just fade away if he isn’t there to protect her.
However, he is more afraid that she might be stuck there forever, with no
movies to watch and no-one to share them with. The pause leaves the reader
with a brief moment to think about what may happen to Imogene if Alec loses
the theatre.
Setting
Theme: Death
Characterisation: Alec
Alec hadn’t cried yet. He knew, years later, that he spent that week in a state
of shock, that he had lost the person he loved most in the world and it had
badly traumatised him.
(p.35)
Ray is clearly described as “the person he loved the most” showing the reader
how strongly Alec felt towards his brother. The fact that he now recognises
that he was in “a state of shock” also demonstrates how great his loss was.
He wasn’t just upset but “traumatised”. The strength of this word highlights
how terribly he felt about the loss of his brother. The idea that “Alec hadn’t
cried yet” tells the reader that there were tears shed for Ray but they did not
come during the point in time where we are now seeing Alec. However, there
definitely was a time when Alec cried for his brother.
Theme: Love
Characterisation: Alec
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Alec’s brother Ray was a self-described film freak. He and Alec went to see
every single movie that opened during his month long leave
(p.36)
Here we see Ray’s obsession. Both brothers are obsessed with similar
things: Ray is obsessed with film and Alec is obsessed with Imogene and the
movie theatre. Describing himself as a “film freak” suggests that Ray loves
film more that most people. However, Ray is totally aware of his obsession. It
does not harm his life in the same way that Alec’s does.
This quote is also important as it shows us where Alec got his love of movies
from: his brother. He loves films so much because they remind him of his
brother. However, later in the story, he loves the theatre so much because of
Imogene.
Theme(s): Film/Obsession
Characterisation: Ray/Alec
He felt a kind of baffled wonder watching them fly around, a curious feeling of
yearning. He had the sudden idea he could sit here and watch for ever. (p.37)
While watching Disney’s “Fantasia”, Alec feels content. This “curious feeling
of yearning” shows how much he loves the experience. Here he just wants
more and more of the film and wants to watch even more. We also see how
much he loves the movie from the last sentence. His desire to stay here
forever is realised when he eventually dies in the same theatre, watching The
Wizard of Oz. This is also an example of foreshadowing as it hints towards
the ending.
Theme: Film
Characterisation: Alec
Foreshadowing
She glanced at him and smiled. She had blood staining her teeth. Alec
couldn’t get up. A second moth, ivory white, landed just inside the delicate
cup of her ear.
(p.39)
This scene creates a very gruesome image. The blood staining her teeth is
particularly disturbing as it makes the reader imagine the bright red of the
blood against the stark white of her teeth. The insects are also horrific as they
are a symbol of death. As insects eat corpses, by having insects crawling
over her face and in her hair, the writer is suggesting that she is already a
corpse. At this point she is dying and she cannot be saved. This point in the
story is the part that is most like a ghost story, with the eerie, discomforting
atmosphere and gruesome images. Insects are symbolic of death and moths,
in particular, suggest decay and make the reader think of things that are very
old and have been left to crumble and rot.
Theme: Death
Symbolism (Moth/Insects)
Genre: Horror (ghost story)
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“Your brother Ray would have loved this,” she said.
“Get away,” Alec whispered hoarsely.
“You belong here, Alec,” she said. “You belong here with me.”
(p.39)
Imogene and Alec’s last exchange before she “dies” in front of him. The fact
that Imogene talks about Ray suggests that she has a supernatural element to
her. There is no way she could have known this information. By talking about
Ray, Imogene is appealing to Alec to stay with her. She knows why he is
hurting and is trying to help him. Furthermore, the fact that she tells him “You
belong here with me” foreshadows the end of the story and how his life will
end – in the Rosebud Theatre with Imogene beside him. All of this adds to
the supernatural side of Imogene.
Foreshadowing
Characterisation: Imogene
Genre: Horror (Ghost Story)
He felt sick at the unfairness of it all, and for a moment there was a pressure
at the back of his eyeballs, a tingling, and he had the ridiculous idea he might
start crying. He felt ill to live in a world where a nineteen-year-old girl full of
laughter and life could be stuck down like that, for no reason. The intensity of
what he was feeling didn’t really make sense, considering he had never
known her when she was alive.
(p.43)
Alec realises how unfair life can be and how indiscriminate death can be. It
had take Imogene at the age of 19 when she had everything to live for. The
emotions in this sequence make us pity Alec and share his distress. These
things make him feel “ill”, showing how upset he is by this discovery. Alec’s
sorrow over Imogene’s death also reflects how terrible he feels by the loss of
his brother. This has finally brought him close to crying. However, he finds
the notion of crying “ridiculous” – again highlighting that he is in shock over
the death of Ray.
Theme: Death
Characterisation: Alec
He saw a girl closing her eyes and lifting her face, in a series of little
increments, to kiss the man holding her in a tight embrace; giving herself to
him. Alec wanted to be kissed like that.
(p.44)
The filmstrip Alec comes across is a typical example of a Hollywood kiss.
This is symbolic of love and passion and is common in many films. The scene
is so typical that these frames could be from any film. Foreshadowing is also
present here because the writer tells us that Alec “wanted to be kissed like
that” and this is how the story ends. He does share that Hollywood kiss with
Imogene that he desired so badly. The film strip is also another symbol of the
importance of film in this story as the story is laid out like a film script. There
is a recurring motif of film and film propaganda throughout this story (scriptlike text, film reels, old posters, film references).
Theme(s): Love/Film
Characterisation: Alec
Symbolism (Hollywood Kiss)
Foreshadowing
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It was about young people, young healthy bodies, punched full of holes and
the life pouring out in arterial gouts, not a single dream realised, not a single
ambition achieved.
(p.46)
Again, the writer is highlighting the unfairness of death again. Alec is
watching a section of “Fantasia” which alludes to the war. When watching
this, Alec is thinking of Ray and Imogene. This is probably the first time he
has ever dealt with loss and it is extremely difficult for him. Some of these
lines are reminiscent of war writing.
Theme: Death
Characterisation: Alec
Here is his chance, the opportunity Alec was not willing to admit he was
hoping for. But instead of telling him that the Rosebud is in desperate straits,
sure to close, Alec changes the subject…ultimately lacks the stomach to do
what must be done.
(p.50)
Alec is unable to ask for the help he needs. This highlights how much of a
proud man he is. Similar to when he refused to cry over Ray’s death, Alec
does not like to be seen as weak and often struggles to get through his
problems because he won’t seek help.
Characterisation: Alec
Some of them talk about the dream, a dream identical to the one Steven
Greenberg described, boarded-over windows, chain on the door, girl crying.
Some only say they want to talk. By the time the answering machine tape has
played its way to the end, Alec is sitting on the floor of his office, his hands
balled into fists – an old man weeping helplessly.
(p.51)
Imogene has come through for Alec and the Rosebud. She has appeared to
everyone who has ever seen her, in the hope that they will go to Alec’s aid. It
is ironic that all of these people contact Alec to offer help when he cannot
bring himself to ask for it. It is as if Imogene knows that he cannot do what
needs to be done, so is doing it for him. The dream reflects Alec’s fears for
the theatre. Imogene has shown it the way that Alec fears it will turn out if it
closes. Alec’s tears here remind us that the narrator had told us that Alec
hadn’t cried for his brother “yet” way back in 1945. It is as if all those tears
have been building up over the years and now that it looks like his theatre and
his ghost are saved, he can let it all out.
Characterisation: Imogene
Characterisation: Alec
Setting
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A whole congregation of people who flocked to the Rosebud instead of church
on Sundays, those whose prayers were written by Paddy Chayefsky and
whose hymnals were composed by John Williams and whose intensity of faith
is a call Imogene is helpless to resist. Alec himself.
(p.51)
Hill is describing those who have seen Imogene over the years and are now
contacting Alec. Imagery is used to highlight their passion for film and for the
Rosebud theatre. This metaphor compares the theatre to a church and the
movie-goers to the church’s congregation. This highlights the zeal with which
they all approach movies. It compares a visit to the Rosebud theatre to a
religious experience. A few notes – Paddy Chayefsky was a famous writer
and wrote films and TV shows between the ‘50s and the ‘70s and John
Williams has composed some of the most famous film themes ever (Star
Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, etc). This metaphor
compares Imogene to some kind of spirit or angel who looks over her church
(theatre) and protects Alec.
Theme: Film
Imagery
Characterisation: Imogene
Setting
The place is closed for three weeks to refurbish. New seats, state-of-the-art
sound. A dozen artisans put up scaffolding and work with little paintbrushes
to restore the crumbling plaster moulding on the ceiling.
(p51)
Steven’s money is ploughed into restoring the Rosebud to its former glory.
Emphasis is placed here on how fresh the theatre is afterwards. Focus on
words like “new”, “state-of-the-art” and “restore” which emphasise this. The
fact that it is closed for 3 weeks highlights how much work is put into
refurbishing the theatre and draws attention to Steven’s dedication. He
doesn’t just buy the place: he fixes it.
Setting
Characterisation: Steven
When Alec hears what he wants to show first – a double feature of The
Wizard of Oz and The Birds – his forearms prickle with gooseflesh; but he
makes no argument.
(p.51)
“The Wizard of Oz” is the film Imogene died during and “The Birds” is the film
Steven saw her in. By choosing these films, Steven is making it clear that
Imogene has become as important to him as she has been to Alec. A choice
like this suggests that the gala night is as much for Imogene as it is for Alec
and the theatre. These films also link to the theme of nostalgia as Steven now
clearly looks back fondly on his encounter with Imogene.
Characterisation: Steven
Theme: Nostalgia
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This was to be the conclusion of her documentary – a packed house enjoying
a twentieth-century classic in this lovingly restored old movie palace – but her
movie wasn’t going to end the way she thought it would.
(p.52)
Fantastic quote here. This links back to so many things throughout the story.
First of all, the reference to “The Wizard of Oz” as “a twentieth-century classic”
is a link to the story’s title. The film is, without a doubt, a “twentieth-century
classic” as it transformed cinema – black and white with Technicolor, the
musical element. It is one of the most famous films of all time and the fact
that Imogene died during it is hugely important. Being the girl who died during
this “twentieth century classic” makes her this story’s “twentieth century
ghost”. This echoes the story’s title.
Other important things: referring to the theatre as a “movie palace” is quite like
when the narrator compared it to a church. Palaces are where you would find
kings and queens and royalty which means that the narrator considers the
theatre to be similar to this. The movies are where you find actors playing
kings, queens and royalty, so technically, the rosebud is like a palace. So Hill
is using a metaphor here to portray the Rosebud as a place where special and
important people can be found. It houses riches and treasure beyond the
audience’s wildest dreams and they can see them all in the movies they come
to see.
Setting
Theme: Film
Imagery
Link to Story’s Title
Word Choice
Then in one shot he has turned sideways to face the seat to his left. He has
been joined by a woman in blue. He is leaning over her. They are
unmistakably kissing.
(p.52-53)
At last, Alec has finally got the Hollywood kiss he has wanted since he was
15. This kiss is a symbol for love and is seen at the end of so many
Hollywood movies. It represents passion and links back to the idea Hill
mentioned earlier of one person giving themselves entirely to another. This is
what Alec and Imogene are doing now – they are giving themselves to one
another and will spend the rest of eternity together. This creates a good
conclusion to the story as a whole as we are seeing what could be considered
as a typical Hollywood ending – the guy gets the girl. Alec and Imogene
finally have what they want – each other. The word “unmistakably” tells us
that this is definitely a big passionate Hollywood kiss and not a demure little
peck on the cheek. Alec and Imogene love one another and this is the first
chance they have ever had to show each other that love.
The last page and a half of the story are very interesting as they read as if the
reader is watching Lois Weisel’s documentary. This section describes the
shot of Alec and Isobel kissing as if you are actually watching it. This adds to
the effect of the story being written as a film script and connects to the theme
of film.
Theme: Love
Theme: Film
Symbolism (Hollywood Kiss)
Satisfying Ending to Story
Characterisation: Alec / Characterisation: Imogene
12
The Wizard of Oz is ending. We know this because we can hear Judy
Garland, reciting the same five words over and over in a soft, yearning voice,
saying – well you know what she is saying. They are only the loveliest five
words ever said in all of film.
(p.53)
These 5 words are “There’s no place like home” (just in case you don’t
already know). Hill withholds this information and lets the reader work it out
for themselves. The fact that the writer assumes the reader will follow his
point shows how important film is not only to him but also to the person
reading it. Just like the way that Imogene will only appear to those who love
film, this reference will only be clear to those readers who share the writer’s
passion for film.
The pop-culture reference here also fits nicely with what is going on in the
story. As Dorothy recites “There’s no place like home”, Alec and Imogene
kiss and Alec passes away. It is as if he is leaving this world (Oz) to return
“home” with Imogene (death/Kansas). This adds to the story’s satisfying
ending as Alec is going where he belongs – with Imogene.
Theme: Film
Satisfying Ending to Story
Withholding Information
And to link up with that one…
And over all of this, Dorothy’s small, brave voice fills the darkened theatre.
She is saying something about home. She is saying something everyone
knows.
(p.53)
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Exam Questions that Could Apply to “20th Century Ghost”
2007
Choose a prose text (fiction or non-fiction) in which a society or a person or a
culture or a setting is effectively portrayed.
Show how the writer’s presentation of the subject makes an impact on you,
and helps you to understand the subject in greater depth.
2008
Choose a novel or short story in which you feel sympathy with one of the main
characters because of the difficulties or injustice or hardships she or he has to
face.
Describe the problems the character faces and show by what means you are
made to feel sympathy for her or him.
2010
Choose a novel or a short story with an ending which you find satisfactory.
By looking at the novel or short story as a whole, explain why you find the
ending satisfactory in bringing to a conclusion the main concerns of the text.
Choose a prose work (fiction or non-fiction) in which setting is an important
feature.
Explain how the writer creates the setting, and then go on to show how this
feature contributes to your understanding of the text as a whole.
2011
Choose a novel or a short story in which you feel there is an incident of great
importance to the story as a whole.
Describe the incident and go on to show its importance to the development of
the characters and the central concerns of the text.
Choose a novel or a short story which has a character who affects you
emotionally.
Describe how you feel about the character, and show how the writer leads you
to feel this way.
Choose a prose work (fiction or non-fiction) in which the writer uses a
memorable style/voice/narrative technique.
Explain in detail how features of the writing style/voice/narrative technique
contribute to the effectiveness of the text.
2012
Choose a novel or a short story where there is an incident which is a turning
point crucial to the fate of the main character.
Briefly describe what happens at this point and go on to explain why this is
crucial to the fate of a main character.
Choose a novel or a short story in which setting in place and/or time is an
important feature.
Briefly describe the setting(s) and explain the importance of this feature to the
story.