SETTING

 � The characters �plough the fields�, showing the agricultural background.The setting of the story is in a country-side, portrayed by the presence of the �melon patches� and the barn.  � This is because Mr. Wills lives in the farm and farms are mainly situated in the rural countryside rather than a developed city, as said in the line, �A man with a big farm like mine needs a son.�� **Deep South (USA) **  � The dialogue syntax is typical of a southern accent �wouldn�t anybody steal a man�s seed melon�, �ain�t got a buckshot�  � Also the figurative language that is used draws on Southern American imagery (Mrs. Wills� paleness is compared to a �butter bean�, a staple in the southern diet) **Setting to enhance the theme of adolescence **  � The setting contributes toward the development of the protagonist�s character as he indulges in activities such as swimming in the �swimming hole�. The boys swim in the �night time� with a �full moon so bright� showing that they are still children at heart, engaging in boyish behavior. **Setting to enhance the action **
 * Rural setting: **
 * The main action of the story takes places on a full moon night. This makes the act of stealing even more audacious as the boy would be clearly visible and wouldn�t be able to hide in the darkness. Freddy Gray comments no one would dare steal the melon on a night that is as �bright as day�
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In the falling action the moon �slides slowly down the sky� and leads to a �welcome darkness�. This shows that the moonlight is now dim leading to a response of relief in the mind of the narrator as his terrible crime can now be masked.