No Setting No Story The setting is one of the most basic elements in a story. It sets the tone, paints a picture for the reader to imagine, and basically shapes the story itself. Without the setting the story could be set in anyplace anytime. You could have a story about space aliens corrupting the inhabitants of mars, but it's set in a ranch in the early nineteen hundreds. It just doesn't make any sense. …showed first 75 words of 583 total…

…showed last 75 words of 583 total…part of the story was the office. It was easy to imagine. Overall, "The Scarlet Ibis" had a more well-rounded setting. It was easy to imagine, and understand the mood of the story. "The Scarlet Ibis" has a distinct time and place to it, all with a grim tone. If the author of "Of Missing Persons" had had a chance to rewrite his, he might have wanted to focus on his description of the setting.