• Section 2 •
CLUES
2. Time can also be
determined from the
dialogue between
characters.
example:
“I already said I was
sorry,” I tried again to
get Gus to talk to me.
“I was just trying to
liven up our
Christmas!”
3. Time can be a
general era, period,
or age.
example:
The whole family
crowded in front of the
TV set, waiting eagerly
to see more of our
astronauts plant their
steps on the moon.
This story is set in the
late 1960’s-early 70’s.
What did they say?
If the story does not mention weather conditions,
another way to figure out the time is to pay
attention to what the characters are saying to
each other (dialogue) or what the narrator shares
regarding the environment or special events.
Seasons of the year can be distinguished with
color. For instance, winter has grey trees
3
stripped of leaves. Fall comes covered in leaves
of red, orange, yellow, and brown. Spring
sprouts new buds and shoots. Summer is full of
greenery and clear, blue skies (Author’s, n.d.).
Time can also be determined by specific
historical details within the story, such as live
presidential speeches or important events.