Final answer:
The setting described in the excerpts ranges from an industrial city with smoke-filled air, as seen in Dickens' Hard Times, to comfortable indoor spaces, highlighting the varied contexts in which the stories take place.
Step-by-step explanation:
The setting of the novel excerpt is established through vivid imagery and descriptive language that emphasizes the harshness and industrial backdrop of the scenes.
For instance, scenes are set among sounds of the city, overcrowded, rain-soaked streets, the hustle of industry, and within the confines of a comfortable home. Each setting provides a contextual background against which the stories unfold, underscoring the environmental and emotional atmospheres experienced by the characters.
In Hard Times by Charles Dickens, the novel is set in the industrial city of Coketown, England. The environment is described as being shrouded in smoke and clammy air, indicative of a city where industry dominates and nature is obscured. This setting is crucial as it reflects the novel's themes of industrialization's impact on humanity and the environment.