Throughout time, the setting of a story has been enhanced by the brilliant usage of images. Whether it is the time period, a character’s home, or an aspect relating to one, or all, of our five senses, imagery gives the reader an insight of the setting that the writer wants to reveal. The setting in the short story ‘The Piece of Sting’, by French author Guy de Maupassant, has been introduced by using specific imagery styles to show the reader the importance of such literary usage and its effects. The time period of the story can only be assumed to be in the late 1700s or early 1800s. We know this due to the description of the country being divided among wealthy and powerful figures. The majority, however, were poor peasants, who worked the land with painful rheumatisms. In addition to the time setting, the environment setting is of major importance as well. The mayor’s house, the market place, the bar, and the Maitre’s death bed are epitomes of the setting. Within each of these place
Widening the view of imagery from one sense (visual) to the various senses, gives the reader, and literary analyst, a chance to see how Maupassant’s imagery and setting are combined. One can look at the story and see how olfactory and gustatory imagery has come to play. “Three spits were turning, loaded with chickens, pigeons, and with joint mutton; and a delectable odor of roast meat, and of gravy gushing over crisp brown skin…”, an epitome of the setting’s grasp on imagery. The feelings that are aroused allow one to imagine as if they themselves are dining at the bar, eating a hearty meal. If Maupassant had stated a simple quote like ‘the meat was roasted and there was plenty for all…’ there would never have been the same effect as the former. The image conceived sets forth a brilliant setting of an ancient French inn, and that atmosphere that accompanies it.
s, is a uniformly unique idea that helps give all readers an understanding and reality to the story.
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