Setting

The events described in the short story “The Bath” by Raymond Carver take place in different locations. First, the conversation between Ann and the baker takes place in “the bakery in the shopping center” (p. 251, ll. 1-2). While the bakery itself is not described, the mention of a “loose-leaf binder with photographs of cakes taped onto the pages” (p. 251, ll. 2-3) gives readers an idea about how the place might look like. The bakery and the interaction between Ann and the baker illustrate the theme of miscommunication, which dominates the story.

Some of the events take place in the street, where Scotty is hit by a car: 

At an intersection, without looking, the birthday boy stepped off the curb, and was promptly knocked down by a car. He fell on his side...