Setting

Time setting

Jay’s Williams’s fairy tale, “Petronella”, is set in a typical setting for the genre, in a kingdom called “Skyclear Mountain” (p. 113, l. 1) where the heroine of the plot is born. The main events take place during Petronella’s travels to find her fortune, over three days and three nights.

However, the story also includes references to events in the past, including typical fairy-tale immemorial times:

“…three princes were always born to the king and queen.” (p. 113, ll. 1-2);

“That was the way it has always been (…) Until now.” (p. 113, ll. 8-9);

“The years passed, and the time came for the princes to go out an seek their fortunes.” (p. 113, ll.17-18)

Physical setting

The physical setting includes various places in the kingdom. The action starts at the palace and continues in a “great dark forest” (p. 114, l. 2) where Petronella and her brothers venture to find their fortunes and where they reach the forked road and the old man.

The references to the city of Gratz (p. 114, l. 7), the castle of Blitz (p. 114, l. 8) and the enchanter’s house help construct the fairy-tale-like setting. The names suggest that Skyclear Mountain might be in a Germanic country, hinting at many fairy-tales’ source in stories by the Brothers Grimm, two German compilers of fairy-tales.

After Petronella and her brothers split ways, the rest of the act...