Setting gives a piece of literature context. It establishes the location, the time period, and the cultural background, and it creates a specific atmosphere that provokes an emotional response in the audience. Think about a horror film or mystery you may have seen. Many scenes probably took place at night, with lots of shadows, maybe in creepy abandoned houses. Obviously these settings create feelings of suspense and unease. Like all of these literary elements, however, setting is also used as a tool by authors to illustrate meaning in their work. For instance, because To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the American South during the Jim Crow era, it’s a pretty good bet that the author has chosen that setting because she has something to say about race in American society.