Backgrounds Quote by Janet Burroway
“If character is the foreground of fiction, setting is the background, and as in a painting's composition, the foreground may be in harmony or in conflict with the background.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft, Janet Burroway, 1991
The relationship between characters and setting shapes a story’s emotional tone, either complementing or opposing each other.
In simple terms: Characters and setting interact to affect mood.
Key Takeaway
Balance or contrast character and setting deliberately.
Themes
storytelling
structure
conflict
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
literary
educational
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- screenwriting
- game design
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
Narrative theory
spatial dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does setting influence character decisions?
- When should setting dominate a scene?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasizing setting can drown out character development.
