Donker Web
Setting analysis
Chapter 1: Skree
• Location: The story begins in Venice, with the retrieval of Greg Owen's body from the
Canale Grande, and then shifts to Greg's home in Sandhurst.
• Connection to Themes: Venice, with its dark waters and historical mystique, sets a
tone of mystery and tragedy that permeates the novel. The gloomy atmosphere of
the Sandhurst home reflects the family's isolation and grief, highlighting themes of
loss, guilt, and the impact of the past on the present.
Chapter 2: Vertrek
• Location: The setting moves from Sandhurst to Cape Town, with Greg preparing for a
new chapter in his life.
• Connection to Themes: The journey from Sandhurst to Cape Town symbolizes Greg's
attempt to escape his past and start anew. The physical movement mirrors his
internal struggle to move beyond the traumas and betrayals that have shaped his life.
The contrast between the familiar gloom of Sandhurst and the new opportunities in
Cape Town highlights the theme of transition and the possibility of redemption.
Chapter 3: Welkom in Matieland
• Location: Stellenbosch, a town known for its historic architecture and oak-lined
streets, becomes Greg's new home.
• Connection to Themes: Stellenbosch, with its scenic beauty and vibrant student life,
contrasts sharply with the darkness of Greg's past. However, the lingering presence
of judgment and suspicion in this seemingly idyllic setting underscores the theme of
inescapable history. The historic houses and trees serve as reminders of tradition and
legacy, tying into Greg's ongoing battle with his family's past.
Chapter 4: Die loser wat sy pa weggegee het
• Location: Stellenbosch, specifically the student center and various campus locations.
• Connection to Themes: The busy and impersonal environment of the student center
reflects Greg's feelings of alienation and his struggle to fit in. The orientation week,
filled with mundane activities, symbolizes the superficial aspects of starting anew,
while the underlying tensions and memories of betrayal highlight the theme of trust
and the difficulty of moving on.
Donker Web Setting Analysis 1
, Chapter 5: Die man met Google in sy kop
• Location: Sport Science building at Stellenbosch University and various other campus
locations.
• Connection to Themes: The academic setting, with its focus on physical and mental
discipline, parallels Greg's internal struggle to maintain control over his life. The quote
from Nelson Mandela about sport creating hope ties into Greg's search for purpose
and redemption, while the anatomy lab's existential reflections connect to the theme
of identity and the human condition.
Chapter 6: Die goed wat jy met jou saamdra
• Location: Stellenbosch, primarily the Neelsie student center.
• Connection to Themes: The Neelsie, as a place where students work and socialize,
serves as a backdrop for Greg's introspection and realization that he cannot escape
his burdens. The setting emphasizes the theme of inescapable pasts and the weight of
familial legacy, as Greg and Plank discuss their fathers' influence on their lives.
Chapter 7: Tydmasjien
• Location: Stellenbosch, with a focus on Greg's apartment and online research.
• Connection to Themes: The apartment, a personal and isolated space, becomes a
place of intense introspection and investigation. The contrast between the digital
world of research and the physical world outside reflects Greg's struggle to reconcile
the past with the present. The theme of uncovering hidden truths is central to this
chapter, with the setting emphasizing the isolation and determination required to
pursue difficult answers.
Chapter 8: Donker patrone
• Location: Stellenbosch, primarily Greg's apartment and balcony.
• Connection to Themes: The claustrophobic setting of Greg's apartment mirrors his
mental entrapment in a web of unanswered questions and dark memories. The
balcony, offering a brief escape, symbolizes Greg's fleeting moments of clarity amidst
confusion. The chapter's focus on investigating Dr. Trollip further explores the theme
of uncovering dark patterns and the consequences of hidden truths.
Chapter 9: Een van ons
• Location: Stellenbosch, including the Workout Cafe and various campus locations.
• Connection to Themes: The casual and social setting of the Workout Cafe contrasts
with the tense interaction between Greg and Dirk Schutte. This setting highlights the
theme of mistrust and the consequences of past actions, as Dirk's suspicion of Greg
reflects broader societal judgments. The familiar campus locations, now tinged with
danger, underscore the theme of hidden threats within everyday life.
Chapter 10: Koerier
• Location: Stellenbosch, Greg's apartment, and the surrounding area.
• Connection to Themes: The apartment, once a place of refuge, becomes a site of
tension as Greg receives a mysterious package related to his father's imprisonment.
The setting reflects the growing sense of unease and the blurring lines between
safety and danger. The presence of the man on the motorcycle outside Greg's
apartment ties into the theme of surveillance and the ever present threat posed by
Greg's past investigations.
Donker Web Setting Analysis 2
Setting analysis
Chapter 1: Skree
• Location: The story begins in Venice, with the retrieval of Greg Owen's body from the
Canale Grande, and then shifts to Greg's home in Sandhurst.
• Connection to Themes: Venice, with its dark waters and historical mystique, sets a
tone of mystery and tragedy that permeates the novel. The gloomy atmosphere of
the Sandhurst home reflects the family's isolation and grief, highlighting themes of
loss, guilt, and the impact of the past on the present.
Chapter 2: Vertrek
• Location: The setting moves from Sandhurst to Cape Town, with Greg preparing for a
new chapter in his life.
• Connection to Themes: The journey from Sandhurst to Cape Town symbolizes Greg's
attempt to escape his past and start anew. The physical movement mirrors his
internal struggle to move beyond the traumas and betrayals that have shaped his life.
The contrast between the familiar gloom of Sandhurst and the new opportunities in
Cape Town highlights the theme of transition and the possibility of redemption.
Chapter 3: Welkom in Matieland
• Location: Stellenbosch, a town known for its historic architecture and oak-lined
streets, becomes Greg's new home.
• Connection to Themes: Stellenbosch, with its scenic beauty and vibrant student life,
contrasts sharply with the darkness of Greg's past. However, the lingering presence
of judgment and suspicion in this seemingly idyllic setting underscores the theme of
inescapable history. The historic houses and trees serve as reminders of tradition and
legacy, tying into Greg's ongoing battle with his family's past.
Chapter 4: Die loser wat sy pa weggegee het
• Location: Stellenbosch, specifically the student center and various campus locations.
• Connection to Themes: The busy and impersonal environment of the student center
reflects Greg's feelings of alienation and his struggle to fit in. The orientation week,
filled with mundane activities, symbolizes the superficial aspects of starting anew,
while the underlying tensions and memories of betrayal highlight the theme of trust
and the difficulty of moving on.
Donker Web Setting Analysis 1
, Chapter 5: Die man met Google in sy kop
• Location: Sport Science building at Stellenbosch University and various other campus
locations.
• Connection to Themes: The academic setting, with its focus on physical and mental
discipline, parallels Greg's internal struggle to maintain control over his life. The quote
from Nelson Mandela about sport creating hope ties into Greg's search for purpose
and redemption, while the anatomy lab's existential reflections connect to the theme
of identity and the human condition.
Chapter 6: Die goed wat jy met jou saamdra
• Location: Stellenbosch, primarily the Neelsie student center.
• Connection to Themes: The Neelsie, as a place where students work and socialize,
serves as a backdrop for Greg's introspection and realization that he cannot escape
his burdens. The setting emphasizes the theme of inescapable pasts and the weight of
familial legacy, as Greg and Plank discuss their fathers' influence on their lives.
Chapter 7: Tydmasjien
• Location: Stellenbosch, with a focus on Greg's apartment and online research.
• Connection to Themes: The apartment, a personal and isolated space, becomes a
place of intense introspection and investigation. The contrast between the digital
world of research and the physical world outside reflects Greg's struggle to reconcile
the past with the present. The theme of uncovering hidden truths is central to this
chapter, with the setting emphasizing the isolation and determination required to
pursue difficult answers.
Chapter 8: Donker patrone
• Location: Stellenbosch, primarily Greg's apartment and balcony.
• Connection to Themes: The claustrophobic setting of Greg's apartment mirrors his
mental entrapment in a web of unanswered questions and dark memories. The
balcony, offering a brief escape, symbolizes Greg's fleeting moments of clarity amidst
confusion. The chapter's focus on investigating Dr. Trollip further explores the theme
of uncovering dark patterns and the consequences of hidden truths.
Chapter 9: Een van ons
• Location: Stellenbosch, including the Workout Cafe and various campus locations.
• Connection to Themes: The casual and social setting of the Workout Cafe contrasts
with the tense interaction between Greg and Dirk Schutte. This setting highlights the
theme of mistrust and the consequences of past actions, as Dirk's suspicion of Greg
reflects broader societal judgments. The familiar campus locations, now tinged with
danger, underscore the theme of hidden threats within everyday life.
Chapter 10: Koerier
• Location: Stellenbosch, Greg's apartment, and the surrounding area.
• Connection to Themes: The apartment, once a place of refuge, becomes a site of
tension as Greg receives a mysterious package related to his father's imprisonment.
The setting reflects the growing sense of unease and the blurring lines between
safety and danger. The presence of the man on the motorcycle outside Greg's
apartment ties into the theme of surveillance and the ever present threat posed by
Greg's past investigations.
Donker Web Setting Analysis 2
