Chapter 1: Weed & river, chapter 2 & 3: ranch bunkhouse, chapter 4 & 5: barn, chapter 6: edge of river. Steinbeck establishes a circular pattern in his settings, having the story come full circle with the beginning and ending both taking place near a river. He also sets up his story with 3 main locations, acting like acts in a play. (river, bunkhouse, bunkhouse, barn, barn, river)