Setting (the time and place in which a literary work takes place) and mood (atmosphere) are important elements in many of these stories. Choose one story and describe some aspects of its setting: where it takes place; what mood is created by the details of weather, place, and time; and how this setting helps to convey the theme of the story.

use this fill in template:
Setting and mood are important in the selection titled “[...]”. This story takes place in [...] during [...] weather conditions in times of [...] ([page number]). This setting creates a mood of [...]. For example, this is shown in the selection when it states “[...]” ([page number]). Therefore, this setting helps to convey the theme of [...].

Setting and mood are important in the selection titled "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson. This story takes place in a small rural town during a hot summer day in the month of June. The details of the setting, with the townspeople gathering in the town square, the children playing and collecting stones, and the mentioning of the black box, create a mood of unease and tension. For example, this is shown in the selection when it states, "The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day..." (page 1). Therefore, this setting helps to convey the theme of the story, which explores the dangers of blindly following tradition and the cruelty that can arise from conformity.