The Context: Painting the Background

The story’s context establishes the setting or scene. It’s the “once upon a time” part that invites the protégé into the story. In a sense, the context allows the protégé to become a witness to the visions of the storyteller.

A story should start with a transition that uses words or cues—such as a long pause—to signify that a story is beginning. Protégés shouldn’t wonder why you are telling them what you’re telling them, and they shouldn’t be asking themselves, “Where does this fit in?” The mentor in the opening paragraph prefaced his instructive story on relationships with, “People are different. They don’t all see things the same way. It reminds me of the comic strip Mutt and Jeff.”

After the transition, it’s important to create a realistic backdrop. Often, a story takes more time to relate than it takes to happen, so you should allow enough time to set the scene. Our mentor’s story had a setting that communicated the tone of the story: “Mutt and Jeff were playing a game of golf and having a great time. All of a sudden Mutt said to Jeff, ‘You know, Jeff, if everybody saw like I did, everybody would want my wife.’”

Even well-told stories often violate grammatical rules. They commonly shift between the past tense and the present. The past tense tells what happened; the present tense is acted out.

When creating the context of your story, ask yourself the following questions:

• What do I want the protégé to feel?

• How can I build a sense of adventure, mystery, suspense, joy, or invitation?

• Will my protégé be able to visualize the scene I have in my mind?

• Will my protégé be able to identify with or relate to the story and the picture I’ve planned?