Episode #1- Mood and Setting
Posted by in English on Monday, October 10th, 2011 at 11:52 amI know we have spent a lot of time on setting recently, but I feel it is important to understand how word choice affects the mood we create. As writers, we only have the power of words to create various scenes in our reader’s minds.
I want to share a video I made to help you understand three things about setting:
- It is never neutral.
- Setting conveys mood
- Words help build a mood by describing setting
Take a look:
As you can see from the video, the setting was the same in all three examples: a snowy wood. However, by identifying the mood, we were able to choose the appropriate words to convey the mood we had chosen.
The first example was meant to convey: Excitement and Joy
Take a look at the paragraph below and notice the words that were chose:
The snow flurries dance like angels as I skip down the fresh wintry path. Tall majestic trees hurry me along singing holiday songs of joy. The air is crisp and smells of youth and freshness. The crunching of my boots echo the opening of presents. The day is wide open and ready to explode.
Next here is the exact same paragraph, but now we are trying to create a mood of Angst and Thoughtfulness.
The snow pounds my head like nervous memories as I plod down the desolate wintry path. Tall distant trees ignore me as I yearn for their song. The air is dull and smells of apathy and decay. The crunching of my boots echo the anxiety I bear. The day is white and empty and ready to engulf me.
Finally, let’s take a look at something a bit more scary
The snow stabs my heart like cold steel fear as I creep down the frightful wintry path. Tall gnarled trees haunt me as they whisper their song of death. The air is heavy and smells of threats and danger. The crunching of my boots echo the dread I bear. The day is grey and full of ghosts who are ready to enter my mind and heart.
Take a look at this chart for further clarity:
Now you try it. Let’s stay with the same three moods: Joy, Pensive, Fear. Look at this photo and write a short paragraph describing the setting while also creating moods. Pick any mood you want and let us guess which one you chose!
image by Wonderlane
You can leave your paragraph in the comments below.
Side note: Was this form of “teaching” useful? Did you like the video, the charts, and the text? Did it make it easier to understand the concept? If so, please explain why. If it did not, please tell me what would make it easier.
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The wind slapped my face in fury as I pace slowly towards a small haunted cabin with gigantic trees around it. The cold, hard snow stabbed my fingers like needles. The woods are creeking excessively, telling me to go away.
The wind and ice lashed across my face with every THUD of my heavy feet that hit the slushy ground in angst. The thudding in my chest was almost as loud. There was something in the distance, getting closer with every stride. The hope of shelter fled through me as I began to feel the warmth that it would bring to my cold aching body. Reaching out for the door handle, the joy spread to all of my limbs. As I began to turn the knob it locked in place, leaving me stuck outside with the evil winds that haunt the night. Stuck and abandoned. Alone
I am now face to face with a dreary cabin. It’s old, grey and full of ghosts. I can hear their screams echo around the tiny room with worn out wooden walls. As I slowly walk closer to take a peek from the nasty window full of moss, a patch of snow falls to my small head. Without hesitation, I stand up and run away from the scary gloomy cabin before anyone finds my terrified soul.
I took one last step and stopped. My foot steps sinking into the soft wet snow. Snowflakes descend from the sky as if they were lonely spirits with no where else to go. A cabin of rocks and wood stood in front of me, with a frozen white bush as its only companion. ignored by the tall proud oak trees beside, sadness and loneliness filled the air. The wood of the cabin turned cold and decayed, it was as if the house was calling for someone to live in it again.
This blog gave me chills because the writing is so clear for me. I like snowflakes as lonely spirits. The frozen whit bush is a companion. I can feel sadness and loneliness. Those are just a few that I liked. You have awesome adjectives creating the mood!
I took a step onto the snow while my heavy feet submerged inside the thick white soft snow. I looked up and now I stall in front of the dark cabin. The cabin surrounded by the snow covered pine trees. The cold weather haunts me and the shadows of the trees creeps every living thing. The creaky door opened slowly and the dark ghosts came out whispering its deadly curses.
The cozy cabin is gently hugged by snow as if they are sharing the warmth in this chilly weather where fresh breeze is blown. The cabin is cheerfully and excitably anticipating today’s birthday boy. Vibrant colors of balloons are clasping one another’s hands and capering all over the room. Delectable aroma of roasted chicken is fluttering in the air ready to deliver its pleasing fragrance.
I believe Mr. Jabiz’s way of creating a video, chart, and the text were great. All the notes that we need during class was already included in the post. As I watched through the video, the texts below the video really assisted what Mr. Jabiz was explaining in the video in detail. By giving a clear chart of a variety of vocabularies that creates different moods, it boosted my understanding of his lesson. The best part is that I can watch Mr. Jabiz lesson anytime I want at home!
My feet becoming really numbness feeling as I drank my hot chocolate with marshmallow, a coziness of a thick blanket covers my body. The toasty feeling with a burn wood log infront me, the feeling of comfort and tranquilize. Freezing ice cold wind could be heard in a country mile. The wild winds hover and shudder the cabin with a blustering force. My leathery sock drenched my fleshy feet as it felt a million needle push through my flesh. The old log smell like the sense tranquility of heaven.
I reached the end of the path and saw a wooden cabin. Crows flew above my head as soft whispers filled my ear. The cabin looked warm and welcoming.. almost too welcoming. It tempted me to step inside and get into safety. I thought about stepping in and decided not to. Death was written all over the cabin.
The sounds of joy and happiness filled the air as I tread down the snowy winter path. Decorations hung on trees and decorated the path. I smelled the fragrance of fresh chocolate chip cookies in the air. The people greeted me with smiles as I headed towards my snow covered log cabin.
I slowly made my way through the heavy snow. The cold snow pierced into my skin giving me goosebumps. Thoughts of fear ran through my head like a million whispers from a ghost. What lied in front of me, I didn’t know. My heart was beating like a demon race horses running from hell. My breathing was getting faster and faster every second, like invisible hands were trying to choke me.
The hypothermic winter stabbed my skin as I walked to an abandoned lodge that looked like a graveyard stinking of rotten carcasses killing my nose making me ill,
the blood colored trees strike fear into me as they kept coming nearer with every step I take to the cabin.
As I skipped down the trail, I found a log cabin covered in white soft snow looks old and vintage. A very mysterious cabin with no body inside, hiding behind the snow. I looked through the window. The cabin was clean, looked cozy and the inside was fully furnished. It was an abandoned log cabin. It was getting colder outside and I decided to go in the cabin.
the path leads me to an old majestic cabin, the door crept as i opened it. as i came in the room was whispering a mysterious echo to my ears. the wind was poking me so that i would leave the cabin souls away.
I was rescued by a police officer like a pastor praying fro a blind man. When I went inside the cabin, I was feeling as happy as a mother get’s her child back from cancer. It was very warm inside and I feel like seeing the gates of Heaven opening. I also saw God giving holy whispers to the Angels in the sky.
I finally got to the end of my path when suddenly, my heart started thumping fast, feeling like it would explode any time soon. The cold wind slapped my face and the snow stung me as it brushed through my skin. The scent of an old man’s cigarette charged into my nose and it was hard to breathe, feeling like it had started to slowly choke me.
The trees were whispering to my ear as I walked step by step to the haunted house.The haunted house was as creepy as a ghost that struck out to me. The ghost struck to me, which was as hard as a rock. I was as worried as a dead baby lying on the street. The baby lying on the street were as sad as The trees were as dull as a grey fragrant. I felt that my heartbeat was as fast as a race car.
I’m seeing a terrified family there who are suffering from the coldness of the fierce winter. Nothing to make them happy, cheerful, warm or restful. The fireplace is not working well because of the strong wind and a fiercely strong and big snowflakes.
the tree is whispering me ,it feels like the wind is bring me to a snowy place
,the wind is make me so cold , when i put a fire i feel like there were a big bear that give me a big hug and when i drank cup of tea there were an old women come to me and she covered me with her sweater that full of warmth.
I was walking through the woods during a frosty winter day, when out of the gloom out came a small stone house. The house was covered in snow like it had been abandoned for years.
Thanks Nathan, glad to have you guys on board.
I thought it sounded could and restful. To me the terror look of the house is exciting and not fearful in any way. I like the excitement of the of the picture not the fear of it.
I was walking threw the heavy snow trying to get my way out of there dragging my feet and and baring to not fall or trip and my face landing like a Popsicle and until someone notices I’m dead. The wind is striking towards my face,I finally got to the end of the trail and what I see is a house or barn left alone in a corner and it seems to be crying and pleasing someone to come and talk to it. I’m so cold that I can’t feel any part of my body or my heart beating also my organs working inside of me.
I like the personification you used for the house crying and pleading. That definitely sets a sad tone.
The icy cold cabin is broken down ,creepy noises,the snow makes it look like a really nice place but it is the complete opposite, with trees that seem to follow you as if they have eyes, and has a haunted feeling to it.
The trees are restless and the house like a block of wood, dark and hard. The night is untrustworthy with a frosty bite chill. my heart is pounding like a herd of wild mustangs. As a sense of fear runs from my feet to my nose.
I love how you compared the house to a block of wood. It is very descriptive.
As the ominous snowflakes fall from the sky the day seems to fade away and the snowy lane becomes grey, and gloomy. A gust of wind so cold and acerbic swoops in and takes my breath away. I feel an icy breath crawl down my neck.
Lakin
http://noellakin.blogspot.com/
As the contrasting snowflakes fall from the sky the night time has a wraithy feel to it. Every stride I take I can hear footsteps behind me. As I stand panting I feel a rush. Tall, gloomy trees makes me feel like someone is following me; a dog, murderer, or a wolf.
-Emily
http://emily-high-school-blog.blogspot.com/
I slowly keep on the path though I hear the dreadful whisper of the trees warning me to go back. Abandoned and alone, night is gathering. The formidable forest is frightful as the dead, gnarled vines seem to gradually devour what insufficient courage I have left…
Suzanne
http://suzannesschoolblog.blogspot.com/
“The formidable forest is frightful” passage is very poetic. Nice!
As I skip toward the cabin I see the chimney and can imagine the warmth of the fire burning inside.I can see the trees around me welcoming me to the cabin,as I walk joyfully towards the cabin, watching the snow flakes around me hit the ground to join its friends.
http://noelzeke.blogspot.com/
In the warm cozy cabin the smell of sweet cinnamon fills the room. A kettle hanging over fire, its soothing sound of its slow bubbling. I look outside of the majestic view of the wide open snow covered forests.
Dylan
http://noeldylan.blogspot.com/
As I’m walking towards a old creepy cabin snow is pounding at me like a bunch of rocks. I don’t want to go inside but I’m freezing. When I open the door, it squeaks like it hasn’t been open for years.It smells like an old lady’s perfume: not very good. Suddenly I hear a whisper that seems to be telling me to go back.
Anna
http://anna-noelanna.blogspot.com/
As I walk towards my grandparents cabin I feel relieved that the long-dreaded walk through woods is over. The wind was cold and felt as knives cutting against my skin. The snow was deep, daring me to fall within its boundaries. As I am walking through the front door I smell the sweet sensation of sugar cookies baking and, hear the ringing noise of one of my grandfathers records playing in the living room. I now feel at home.
Sarah
http://sarah-noelsarah.blogspot.com/
As I stand outside the brick cabin, I have a cold frightening feeling like someone is watching me. The snow is coming down continuously harder. It feels like shards of glass hitting my face. As I dread creeping through the yard I hear noises coming from behind me. As I turn around to see what was there all I could see was the opaque woods ahead of me.
Shayla
http://noelshayla2.blogspot.com/2011/10/as-i-stand-outside-brick-cabin-i-have.html
I’m sitting on a hard wooden chair in the middle of the room. The room is dark with no light, empty and sad, no one here but me. A single window looks out into the woods, dark and foggy. A cold breeze comes from the cracked door and snow blows in. There’s a smell of death upon me, there’s a cloud of darkness coming over me.
I was standing outside in the steel cold air. I sense death all around me. Frightening noises fill my surrounding; dreadful shadows spill on the ground. Chill races through my spine then all of a sudden a raven lands next to me. The raven reeks of death.
As the ashed snow falls on my head I see the gaunt trees looking over me.The brutal life i live in gets worst and worst by the minute.I get this alarming felling like something is overlooking me .I turn around and there in the distance I see the outline of something looking at me with these big yellow eyes.
Alec
http://noelalec.blogspot.com/
I am sitting in the room, freezing from the cold air that stabs my gentle skin. While the wind whispers death from outside, heavy cold steel fear runs down my body. I am looking outside and the day looks grey and full of ghosts.
I discovered this luxurious gorgeous cabin. Its warm and has a delightful sofa that I can jump on. There is an inviting shelf filled with books, thousands of them. I felt like in heaven. On the wall there is a huge plasma TV and beside it there’s a huge steel box filled with money! The cabin smells sensational.
Ana
http://anaelviasblog.blogspot.com/
As I walk the snow is stabbing my skin as I walk to my cabin.The frightful trees they whisper their song of heavy threats of death, they haunt me as I walk.As I walk I feel like something is creeping behind me but nothing is there.
Blake
http://blake-noelblake.blogspot.com/
As I run down the frozen path the snow crunches like little bones. I breath in and breath out. The air gashes my lungs. The breeze is burning my cheeks. I stop as soon I see a deserted house. It is getting cloudy and the house is dark and desolate. My heart is pounding so fast it feels like thunder in my chest.
Cesar
http://cesarnoel2.blogspot.com/
I spy a small cabin down at the end of the trail. I start hearing bizarre noises. My heart starts to pound like someone knocking on a door , My feet are shaking so much that I can’t move. Wind floats past me like the whispers of old men talking in their dead bed.
Menrinna
http://menrinna.blogspot.com/
It’s dark, cold, the wind is smacking me, and the snow is stabbing me with needles. I’m searching for warmth. I see a cabin close by, but the door is unfortunately locked! I’m left outside fearfully alone in the dreadful night.
Elizabeth
http://noelelizabeth2.blogspot.com/
As I am dashing down my path in the wintry day, the air feels fresh in my face . I see the cabin and I start to dance in the crisp air of joy . I stop in the middle of the snowy woods as I hear the wind singing joyfully season. As I run to the cabin I open the door feeling pleasant in the warm cabin.
Ana Barbara
http://noelanab2.blogspot.com/
As I walked through the frost covered trees, I came across an old crooked house that seemed like it had been abandoned for years. As I came close to the house, I suddenly got the chills. Then there was a sudden crashing noise on the other side of the house. I was very curious but afraid to go around to the other side of the house and see what the noise was.
Nathan
Nathan@noeltigers.com
I ran in the cold heavy snow lost in the strange woods. My heart pounding fast every second. Hearing the whispers of the frightening woods. As I gaze trough the white snow I spot a tiny cabin. The cabin was as if it was a haunted house.
We are living currently in a cabin.The day is very cold and snowy. we hear this abominable noise outside. We left our nectarous food on the table, grabbed our warm jackets. All of the family stepped outside in the freezing cold and felt the very cool breeze. There are many inches of snow on the ground. We can see our dogs shivering trying to go inside. This day is going to be fun.
Abby
http://noelabby.blogspot.com/2011/10/mood-and-setting.html
It is a small Bungalow in the snow in winter, in the forest it is an affectionate and intimate mood in the bungalow. The hedges are all petrified and have snow all over them. The trees have lost all of there leaves the bungalow looks deserted because there’s no lights in the inside. The snow looks very vast i miss my bungalow i should have never sold it. I miss the fragrance of the wood burning and seeing the critters around my bungalow.
http://noelangel2.blogspot.com/
mrcsclassblog.blogspot.com/
There is small shack at the middle of the Bents’ forest, winters is near. Its feels like the woods have paranormal movement. The forest is filled with the light of the crescent moon and immortal creatures that fear no mortal. They annihilate any thing that get in their path. Gloomy, faint light fills the forest evoking evil hellion.
http://spriceless.blogspot.com/
http://mrcsclassblog.blogspot.com/
The icy cold cabin is broken down ,has creepy noises,the snow makes it look like a really nice place but it is the complete opposite, with trees that seem to follow you as if they have eyes, and has a haunted feeling to it. It seems that no matter where I stood by it something seemed to assail something at me I could feel chaos come from it.It has a bloodcurdling perplexity feeling to the cabin. It also felt as if quietus is hanging in the air. http://noelterry2.blogspot.com/
As I am standing here hearing the wind ring through the trees . The cabin roof is topped with snow. My nose is a cheery red because of the playful cold. The chimney smoke smells like happiness.
Edna
http://noellitleprincess.blogspot.com/
The cold snow bites my skin like the wolf bites it’s prey. The whispering winds sweep across the yard instilling all with the frozen fears of the night. The gnarled maple covered in the icy menace of winter threatening to give way. As I follow the path to the cabin to retire from this vast frozen wasteland
Tristin
http://tristin-tristinsblog.blogspot.com
Running through the woods I hear a scream. I see a ghostly image of death.The house is dark and terrifying inside, a dreadful smell comes from the basement. I hear the screeches from the stairs right through my head to feet.
Marlene
http://noelmarlene.blogspot.com/
I am walking home from hunting on a cold winter day. As I am advancing I repetitively hear unknown noises. As I am tread through the snow I start to develop fear, not just regular fear but not just simple fear but the kind of that puts me in abhorrence type of fear.
As I strut towards the cabin under the frightful, pitch-black sky, I am all set. I make it to the cabins foul smelling porch.My mission has not been accomplished yet. I will identify what is in that terrifying cabin!
Sergio
http://sergionoel.blogspot.com/
As I was dashing through the woods suddenly I approached the end of the path. I looked up and saw crows flying in the air as strange whispers filled my ears. I came across a gray cabin. The cabin looked freaky and frightening.
Karla
http://noelkarla2.blogspot.com/
I wake up and stand up the floor it is cold when I look out the window I see snow covering the ground and trees. I hear children laughing, the wind is blowing and its very cold. I smell hot chocolate on the table.
link
http://mrcsclassblog.blogspot.com/
The cabin was cool and fearful. The door shouted quickly, I started feeling frigid and eerie. In the inside of me I feel like I’m dead without escape.
The trees are swaying in the wind . The birds are chirping in the trees. I smell the sweet smell of ginger bread cooking. The house is nice and warm.
Smantie
http://smantiea.blogspot.com/
There is a wind blasting throughout the trees.I hear glutton wild dog that is eating a dear like a ground hog. There is a bird chirping like if there were scared. then I hear the branches creaking in the on top of the cabin.
Jesus
http://noeljesus.blogspot.com/
I step on the snow and my foot fell in hole. I fell in the snow and my face was code. I had a bad filling that someone was watching me. The smell of the air smelled like something was dead. I saw something move in the corner of my eye. I turned and it was a cat. I herd someone tell me “Your dead meat”.
Miguel
http://miguelcomm.blogspot.com/
Here I am standing in the cabin where I have lots of fun with my friends. I smell chocolatey the hot chocolate we used to drink joyfully with marshmallows. The steam of the hot chocolate rises to my face feeling warm and inviting.
Erika
http://noelerika2.blogspot.com/
I stopped at a old cabin that had lots of cold snow on top of it. I turned around and saw a grey ghost,while I listen to a scary dog barking at me like the dog is going to chase me.
Kayla
http://kaylaoblog.blogspot.com/
Standing at the front of the cabin I notice a lot of snow everywhere around the house. I can hear the sound of little kids screaming, and there small footprints everywhere in the snow, and since they are so cold they have their little noses are so red and they are pale.
There I was standing in front of the cabin where I had fun with my family as we sat in front of the chimney drinking hot chocolate with cookies.I like the smell of the chocolate chip cookies and the noise of the people laughter.
Yesenia
Yesenia@noeltigers.com
The hard snow pricked like needles.I walked slowly to the terrifying empty cabin to look inside.My foot steps echo along the cabin floor and the trees outside has a derange felling to the cabin in front of me.Like if the trees are excessively telling me to go away.I hard a sound of clamors where heard outside the cabin.
http://gabrielnoel2.blogspot.com/
I walk in and I smell blood in the the cabin.I hear a howl in one of the rooms, suddenly I hear the click of the door locking behind me! In the dark room my blood is racing through my veins.
Kenneth
http://noelkenneth2.blogspot.com/2011/10/problem-wish-plant-well-biggest-then.html
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