Setting vs. Scenery — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 28, 2023
Setting refers to the time, place, and environment in which a story occurs. Scenery pertains to the visual features of a landscape. While setting encompasses a broader context, scenery focuses on visual details.

Difference Between Setting and Scenery
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Setting is a crucial element in narratives, encompassing the overall backdrop where the events unfold. This includes the time, location, and cultural or societal circumstances. In literature, a novel's setting can provide readers with a deeper understanding of characters and plot dynamics.

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Oct 28, 2023
Scenery, on the other hand, often emphasizes the visible, picturesque aspects of a location. It's the mountains in the background, the serene lakeside, or the bustling city streets. While scenery can be part of a setting, it specifically focuses on the visual or tangible features of a place.

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Oct 28, 2023
Think of setting as the broader stage on which a story is performed. It provides the contextual background, helping audiences understand the world the characters inhabit. This world could be a specific era, a particular city, or even an entire fictional universe.

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Oct 28, 2023
Scenery can be likened to the painted backdrops and props on a theater stage. It gives depth and visual appeal, enhancing the audience's experience. In movies, for instance, breathtaking scenery can make locations memorable and iconic.

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Oct 28, 2023
In essence, while both terms relate to the environment, setting offers a comprehensive frame—encompassing time, location, and societal nuances. Scenery, meanwhile, beautifully fills in the visual details of that frame.

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Oct 28, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
The time, place, and environment in which events occur
The visual features of a landscape

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Contexts
Literature, film, theater
Art, film, theater, photography

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Emphasis
Contextual background (time, culture, environment)
Tangible and visual features

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Usage
Describes where and when a story takes place
Refers to the picturesque aspect of a location

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Associated Concepts
Historical period, societal norms, geographical location
Mountains, lakes, forests, cityscapes

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Compare with Definitions
Setting
The place or surroundings where something happens.
The setting of the novel is a small Midwestern town.

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Scenery
The visual aspect of a stage production.
The scenery for the musical was vibrant and detailed.

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Setting
The time and place of the events in a story.
The film has a modern-day setting in New York City.

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Scenery
The general appearance of a place in terms of its features.
The coastal scenery was dotted with lighthouses.

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Setting
The position, direction, or way in which something, such as an automatic control, is set.

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Scenery
The visual features of an area of land.
The mountain scenery was breathtaking.

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Setting
The context and environment in which a situation is set; the background.

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Scenery
Natural features that are visually pleasing.
Tourists come to enjoy the region's beautiful scenery.

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Setting
The time, place, and circumstances in which a narrative, drama, or film takes place.

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Feb 03, 2023
Scenery
The natural features of a landscape considered in terms of their appearance, especially when picturesque
Spectacular views of mountain scenery

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Setting
(Music) A composition written or arranged to fit a text, such as a poetical work.

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Scenery
The painted background used to represent natural features or other surroundings on a theatre stage or film set
They had all helped with scenery and costumes

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Setting
A mounting, as for a jewel.

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Scenery
A view or views of natural features, especially in open country
Enjoying the varied mountain scenery.

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Setting
A place setting.

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Scenery
Backdrops, hangings, furnishings, and other accessories on a theater stage or on a film or television set that represent the location of a scene.

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Setting
A set of eggs in a hen's nest.

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Scenery
View, natural features, landscape.

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Setting
Present participle of set

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Scenery
Stage backdrops, property and other items on a stage that give the impression of the location of the scene.

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Setting
The time, place and circumstance in which something (such as a story or picture) is set; context; scenario.

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Scenery
Assemblage of scenes; the paintings and hangings representing the scenes of a play; the disposition and arrangement of the scenes in which the action of a play, poem, etc., is laid; representation of place of action or occurence.

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Setting
The act of setting.
The setting of the sun
The setting, or hardening, of moist plaster of Paris

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Scenery
Sum of scenes or views; general aspect, as regards variety and beauty or the reverse, in a landscape; combination of natural views, as woods, hills, etc.
Never need an American look beyond his own country for the sublime and beautiful of natural scenery.

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Setting
A piece of metal in which a precious stone or gem is fixed to form a piece of jewelry.

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Scenery
The painted structures of a stage set that are intended to suggest a particular locale;
They worked all night painting the scenery

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Setting
A level or placement that a knob or control is set to.
The volume setting on a television

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Scenery
The appearance of a place

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Setting
The act of marking the position of game, as a setter does.

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Scenery
The painted background used in a theater.
The play's scenery depicted a quaint village.

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Setting
Hunting with a setter.

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Setting
Something set in, or inserted.

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Setting
A piece of vocal or choral music composed for particular words (set to music).
Schubert's setting of Goethe's poem
Bach's setting of the Magnificat

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Setting
The mounting of a play, etc., for the stage.

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Setting
The direction of a current of wind.

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Setting
That disappears below the horizon
The setting sun

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Setting
The act of one who, or that which, sets; as, the setting of type, or of gems; the setting of the sun; the setting (hardening) of moist plaster of Paris; the setting (set) of a current.

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Setting
The act of marking the position of game, as a setter does; also, hunting with a setter.

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Setting
Something set in, or inserted.
Thou shalt set in it settings of stones.

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Setting
That in which something, as a gem, is set; as, the gold setting of a jeweled pin.

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Setting
The time, place, and circumstances in which an event (real or fictional) occurs; as, the setting of a novel.

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Setting
The context and environment in which something is set;
The perfect setting for a ghost story

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Setting
The state of the environment in which a situation exists;
You can't do that in a university setting

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Setting
Arrangement of scenery and properties to represent the place where a play or movie is enacted

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Setting
The physical position of something;
He changed the setting on the thermostat

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Setting
A table service for one person;
A place setting of sterling flatware

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Setting
Mounting consisting of a piece of metal (as in a ring or other jewelry) that holds a gem in place;
The diamond was in a plain gold mount

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Setting
(of a heavenly body) disappearing below the horizon;
The setting sun

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Setting
A position or arrangement, especially of a device.
Adjust the setting of the thermostat to lower the temperature.

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Setting
The environment or ambiance created for a particular purpose.
The candlelit room provided a romantic setting.

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Setting
The metal framework in which a gem is fixed.
The diamond was beautiful in its gold setting.

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Common Curiosities
Is setting only used in literature?
No, setting can be used in film, theater, and other narratives to describe where and when events happen.

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Can scenery refer to urban landscapes?
Yes, scenery can describe both natural landscapes and cityscapes.

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Can setting influence a character's behavior?
Yes, the cultural and societal nuances of a setting can shape character behavior and decisions.

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How does setting differ in historical fiction?
The setting in historical fiction is rooted in a specific historical period, adding authenticity to the narrative.

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Does scenery only concern visuals?
Primarily, yes. Scenery emphasizes the visual features of a place.

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Is scenery always natural?
No, scenery can be man-made, like city views or architectural landmarks.

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Can scenery affect the viewer's perception of a film?
Yes, memorable and visually striking scenery can enhance viewer experience and immersion.

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Does every story need a defined setting?
Most stories benefit from a defined setting for context, but some narratives may intentionally leave it ambiguous.

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Is setting always about a physical location?
Mostly, but it also includes the time period and societal context.

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Can a novel's mood be influenced by its setting?
Absolutely. The setting can deeply influence a story's tone, mood, and character interactions.

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Can setting be fictional?
Yes, many works, especially in fantasy and science fiction, have entirely fictional settings.

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Are props considered scenery?
In theater, props are distinct but can be part of the overall scenery or set design.

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Is scenery used in theater?
Yes, scenery in theater refers to the painted backgrounds and props used on stage.

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Is scenery limited to visual arts?
While it's primarily visual, references to scenery can also be made in literature to describe picturesque details.

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Can settings change within a narrative?
Yes, stories can have multiple settings as characters move or as events unfold in different places and times.

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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.