Setting

Here, we discuss the setting of the short story “A Shot in the Light” by Lion Goodman.

Time and physical setting

The time setting of the story is clearly specified from the very beginning, the year 1978 (p. 112, l. 1). The events in the story spread over the course of three days (p. 112, l. 9), but the main event – the shooting incident – spreads over one night. The first bullet was shot “the third night” (p. 112, l. 14) and the two men parted ways “as the sun was rising over the hills” (p. 119, l. 6).

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Social setting

More importantly, the social setting presents the consequences of coming from a poor environment. Ray comes from a poor family with a violent and alcoholic father.

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