What is one reason an author might slowly release information about a setting?

To keep the reader guessing about when and where a story takes place.

To gradually develop a better technique for crafting effective descriptions.

To prevent the story from being overloaded with details at the beginning.

To prevent the reader from drawing conclusions about what will happen next.

5 answers

All of the above reasons could potentially be why an author might slowly release information about a setting.
Which one is it
It could be any of the reasons mentioned, as the specific reason would depend on the author's intention and the overall purpose of the story.
This relates to the short story The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe
In the case of "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe, one reason the author may choose to slowly release information about the setting is to prevent the story from being overloaded with details at the beginning. Poe carefully controls the information he provides about the narrator's surroundings in order to create a sense of claustrophobia and intensify the reader's focus on the narrator's psychological state. By allowing the setting to gradually unfold, Poe helps maintain a sense of tension and mystery throughout the story.