The setting of Walter Clark's, The Portable Phonograph, influences the story through his implementation of diction and passing of time. Clark includes numerous adjectives in the setting to paint his story with elegant colours. “A queer sensation of torment...isolated weed stalks” The words queer, torment, and isolated used in some setting descriptions, have a tainted connotation. By employing these terms in Clark’s writing, he further exemplifies a dark and wicked tone throughout. The reader already theorizes that this tale will be immoral only by analysing words like these. Moreover, the time of day utilized in the setting let’s the audience interpret the story before it has even begun. The first line reads: “The red sunset, with narrow, black
