What is the setting in the short story Contents of the Dead Man's Pockets?

Answer 1

The author utilized setting expertly as he casually introduces the fact that the apartment is on the eleventh floor of a New York apartment building during the first few paragraphs of the story. The scene is further set when the contrast between the warmth in the apartment and the coldness of the ledge is portrayed when his wife leaves for the movies. An additional contrast in setting is created as he will be working, and later be stuck on the cold ledge, fighting for his life, while his wife is relaxing in the comfort of the theatre. Once on the ledge the author portrays the new setting cleverly by initially stating that Tom was "balanced easily and firmly" on the ledge, giving the reader the initial impression that retrieving the yellow paper could be done quite easily, despite the height. With his singular purpose to retrieve the paper, the author utilizes the characteristics of Tom to create a mental setting in his mind that height is no problem. This is then skilfully reversed when reality struck Tom and setting plays a primary role in the suspense again. Once Tom again becomes aware of the dangers of the external world and his precarious position some eleven stories above the busy street, stuck without the potential for help, alone on the ledge the setting plays a major part in creating suspense. The clever use of setting by the author in building the suspense includes the use of the contrast between the setting inside the apartment and that on the ledge.

Answer 2

The setting of the short story Contents of the Dead Man's Pockets is the eleventh floor apartment