The setting primarily reflects the inability of the fisherman’s wife to bear children. The "rocky cliffs and dull, gray skies" create a sense of isolation and sadness, mirroring her longing for companionship and family. The contrast between her wish for children and the bleakness of her surroundings emphasizes her loneliness and desire for connection, making the setting integral to understanding her emotional state.
In the long distant past, upon the western shores of the Great Water, there lived a fisherman and his wife. They had no children and the nearest village was a day away. They lived alone, surrounded by rocky cliffs and dull, gray skies. Each day, the fisherman would go out upon the Great Water. His wife would sit on the beach watching the birds with their young circling in the sky and riding the waves. As the birds chatted and dove for minnows, she called out, "Oh, sea birds, how I wish I had children like you to keep me company during these long, gray days.”
What role does the setting play in this excerpt?
It suggests the possibility of adventure in another place.
It reflects the inability of the fisherman’s wife to bear children
It describes the dangers the fisherman experiences at sea
It demonstrates the beauty and endless mystery of nature
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