The Summer Book

Setting is used extensively as many of the vignettes take place in a unique area. The settings that appear include the family’s cottage and veranda, the island, the magic forest, the Cairn, Blustergull Skerry, North Grayskerry, the cave, and the sea. Many of the vignettes begin with an elaborate description of the setting. For instance, “The Magic Forest” begins with a description of the dead forest on the island: “From a passing rowboat it was obvious that each tree was stretching away from the wind; they crouched and twisted, and many of them crept” (8).

The description of the setting serves both to assist the reader in creating a mental image of the magic forest and to develop the sad and dark tones of the vignette. Each setting used plays a similar role in their respective stories. As such, the reader is introduced to the variety of landscapes among the islands of the Gulf of Finland, while themes and characterization are enhanced through the symbolism of the settings and how they reflect the emotions and experiences of the characters.