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explained this as a nationalistic novel through the art of storytelling as a way to preserve history and culture of a tribe, the focus of this study is to analyze The
Storyteller as Llosa‘s way to show as well as to question nationalism itself. Thus,
the writer considers the setting and the conflicts in this novel worthwhile for the study.
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Theory of Setting
The use of setting in a literary work is very significant since it brings the readers or the audience‘s mind to imagine the description of where, when, and
how a story happens. Roberts and Jacobs in Fiction: An Introduction to Reading and Writing
said ‗Setting refers to the natural and artificial scenery or environment in which characters in literature live and move, together with the
things they use,‘ 1987: 229. What they meant by natural setting is the location that refers to the real condition inspired by nature such as sea and forest. Different
from the natural one, artificial setting refers to location or any objects created by human. Despite the difference, both natural and artificial setting are chosen and
created with intension to provide stage for a story but also to deliver certain message related to the condition of a character 1987: 229-230.
While Roberts and Jacobs focused on defining setting as an element of places and objects in a story, Abrams in A Glossary of Literary Terms contributes
more description to the theory of setting. Setting is not only a depiction of place in a story, but also depiction of time and historical background.
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The overall setting of a narrative or dramatic work is the general locale, historical time, and social circumstances in which its action occurs; the
setting of a single episode or scene within such a work is the particular physical location in which it takes place Abrams, 1999: 284.
In that quotation, Abrams mentioned that setting covers three elements
including the one explained by Roberts and Jacobs. He said that setting consists of the depiction of location or place, time, and social circumstance that inspire the
story. The additional elements, time and social circumstance, are important to support the explanation about setting of place since it makes the readers or
audience of literary work find it easier to imagine certain story.
2. Theory of Plot and Conflict
When talking about conflict in a literary work, it is always connected with a discussion about plot. Two theories about plot from Roberts and Jacobs, and
Abrams stated that plot is dealing with what-so-called chronological order of actio
ns. Roberts and Jacobs said, ‗A plot is a plan or groundwork of human motivations, with the actions resulting from believable and realistic human
responses. In a well-plotted work, nothing is irrelevant; everything is related ,‘
1987: 98. There are two important things in that quotation. The first one is their mentioning about ‗groundwork of human motivations‘. It indicates that the
arrangement of plot is a result of human motivations. From the first until the last sequence, there are human motivations that set logical order. This explains the
second important thing that a well-plotted work follows a relevant connection between sequences. They are related.
