• Section 2 •
CLUES
Look for words that
name specific
geographical features.
example:
“Dad!” I tumbled down
the sand dune, arms
flailing, desperately
grabbing at anything
that could stop my
imminent death in
this godforsaken
desert.
No images of my life
flashed before my eyes,
just a single insistent
soundbite looping as I
plunged further and
faster to my death:
“I’m coming with you
to Africa. I’m coming
with you to Africa. I’m
coming with...”
Readers can guess that
this takes place in the
Sahara Desert.
Know your geography
Writers often select or manipulate the physical
settings of their stories to mirror the changes
characters undergo. A prime example of this
strategy is Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness.
The geography and physical environment gives
readers an intimate view of the characters’
psychological and emotional turmoil (Achebe,
1977).
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It helps to have some geographical knowledge
when faced with stories that name no names.
For instance, if a story is set in Southeast Asia,
the number of possible countries to pinpoint is
smaller than if Asia was mentioned in general.