Setting

Here, we discuss the setting of the short story “The Spoiled Child” by Sinéad de Valera.

Time and physical setting

The short story “The Spoiled Child” by Sinéad de Valera is set near “the beautiful Erne lakes” (p. 81, l. 2) in Ireland (p. 82, l. 27). This is indicated both directly, and through language which mixes English with certain Irish words.

While the physical place is a real geographical location, the time setting is typical of fairy-tales, the action taking place “once upon a time” (p. 81, l. 1).

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Social setting

When it comes to the social setting, the story presents us with a stereotypical patriarchal society, in which men were rich (the father, the prince), women’s goal was supposed to be marriage, and young men were supposed to travel (Ronan). However, the story also challenges certain stereotypical social norms.

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