"The Fat boy is set in a small New Zealand town. It is never identified specifically.
This is important as it gives the setting a generic feel. The setting is stereotypical and can
apply to any rural New Zealand small town.
The effect of this technique is that any New Zealander who lives in a small town or has been to a small town
can relate to the themes or events in the story.
Techniques which create setting:
Jargon
New Zealand jargon is used in this story. This helps identify the setting as being set in a New Zealand town. Specific examples od jargon then identify it as a 'small rural' New Zealand town.
Quotes:
"King Dick"
"Tasman Hotel"
"IHC"
"Gas works"
Each of these quotes identify buildings and organisations which are distinclty New Zealand establishments. They specifically show that it is New Zealand due to the choice of names. For example "King Dick" and "Tasman Hotel". Most New Zealand pubs or hotels have names that show our allegience to England. "Tasman" is an area of New Zealand at the top of the South Island. These examples also show that it is a small town as most cities no longer have pubs or hotels but rather bars and clubs. However, these types of hotels/pubs are still prevalent in many rural New Zealand towns.
IHC is a New Zealand organisation which deals with the Intellectually Handicapped. This reinforces that the setting is New Zealand.
"Gas works" shows that the setting is small town New Zealand as many of these industrial factories are located in rural New Zealand towns rather than cities.
"The Fat boy is set in a small New Zealand town. It is never identified specifically.
This is important as it gives the setting a generic feel. The setting is stereotypical and can
apply to any rural New Zealand small town.
The effect of this technique is that any New Zealander who lives in a small town or has been to a small town
can relate to the themes or events in the story.
Techniques which create setting:
New Zealand jargon is used in this story. This helps identify the setting as being set in a New Zealand town. Specific examples od jargon then identify it as a 'small rural' New Zealand town.
Quotes:
Each of these quotes identify buildings and organisations which are distinclty New Zealand establishments. They specifically show that it is New Zealand due to the choice of names. For example "King Dick" and "Tasman Hotel". Most New Zealand pubs or hotels have names that show our allegience to England. "Tasman" is an area of New Zealand at the top of the South Island. These examples also show that it is a small town as most cities no longer have pubs or hotels but rather bars and clubs. However, these types of hotels/pubs are still prevalent in many rural New Zealand towns.
IHC is a New Zealand organisation which deals with the Intellectually Handicapped. This reinforces that the setting is New Zealand.
"Gas works" shows that the setting is small town New Zealand as many of these industrial factories are located in rural New Zealand towns rather than cities.