• Section 1 •
CLUES
1. Characters’ speech
patterns may
indicate education,
social status, or
economic
background.
example:
A teacher uses
standard English and
correct grammar when
talking with students
and colleagues.
2. The way characters
act and react to
situations or to other
characters may
reveal their
upbringing.
example:
A quiet student always sits
at the back row in the
classroom and flinches
whenever the teacher raises
her voice may indicate a
negative home life.
Deportment and Comportment
A prime example of using social environment to
enhance setting is Jane Austen’s novels, in
particular Pride and Prejudice. Regency England
comes alive with the differences between the
aristocratic and middle class approaches to
marriage and social standing (Sutherland, n.d.).
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Another great example of using distinctive
manners, speech, and behaviors is The Color
Purple by Alice Walker. The novel’s two female
narrators have different speech patterns,
highlighting the different experiences and
expectations of the two women (Clarke, n.d.).