Setting

The setting of the short story “Hop-Frog” by Edgar Allan Poe is the court of a kingdom somewhere in Europe, at a time when court fools were still popular. Though such kingdoms certainly existed in Europe, the lack of details about the setting and the way it is depicted contribute to making the story similar to a fairytale; the actions could have taken place anywhere, anytime: “At the date of my narrative, professing jesters had not altogether gone out of fashion at court. Several of the great continental ‘powers’ still retain their ‘fools,’...”

...

Social setting

The social setting of a king’s court adds to the story’s plot. In the story, the king is a tyrant monarch, who seems to have absolu…

...

Physical setting

The main physical setting is the ballroom for the masquerade. Its depiction shows the opulence of the king and Trippetta’s organizational abilities: “A gorgeous hall had been fitted up, under Trippet…