The setting of a story is the location and time, or the where and when. Settings often play a crucial role especially in the case of historical fiction. The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley takes place at the onset of World War II, and many of the story's events are dependent upon this fact.In this activity, students will illustrate and describe the different settings of the book.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard identifying the different settings in the book The War That Saved My Life.
Student Instructions:
Begin the lecture with a general discussion on the role of setting in a narrative. Ask the students what would happen if the setting of the story changed all of a sudden. Students can also discuss some of their favourite settings they like to write or read about. Build the lecture based on the responses of the students.
Help the students become familiar with the era in which the narrative is set. Specifically, World War II. Recognize the socio-political environment, significant occurrences, and how they could have impacted the characters. Students can perform their research and try to find out if the setting used in the story is actually similar to the real events.
Describe how the conflict affects the lives and experiences of the characters. For instance, Ada and Jamie must be evacuated when explosions in London are a possibility. Students can also discuss how the title and the narrative also talk about war and how Ada and Jamie’s lives were saved by the war.
What interactions do the characters have with their surroundings? How does the place they are living at impact their lives For instance, Ada’s trauma because of her mother’s abuse could be worse at Mam’s apartment than at Susan’s place. Students can reflect on these questions and discuss them with fellow students to gather more insights.
Encourage the students to further discuss how wars impact the lives of people and what would have happened to Ada, Jamie and Susan if the story was not set during the World War. Discuss other major parts of the setting as well such as Mam’s apartment and Susan’s place both had different interactions with Ada and Jamie.
The two primary locations of the novel are Ada, Jamie, and Susan's shelter, a little town in the English countryside, and London, England, during World War II. Ada and Jamie escape London in search of a home and some independence and to move far away from their mother’s abusive behaviour.
The first setting, London, represents the mayhem, anxiety, and risks of war. Children, including Ada and Jamie, are evacuated due to the ongoing bomb threat and the congested, metropolitan atmosphere due to the sense of urgency and stress created. Because of this war, Ada and Jamie can find their escape and look for a more fulfilling environment.