Setting

Fiddler on the Roof is a musical comedy that takes place in 1905 in the small Russian village of Anatevka. The action of the play occurs largely in and around the home of Tevye. The kitchen, Tevye's bedroom, the front yard, and the barn are the primary locations, in addition to some brief settings in the village, including an inn, Model's tailor shop, the train station, streets, and roads. Tevye's house emphasizes his importance as the primary character as well as the centrality of the family and its traditions in the play.

Monologue

In Fiddler on the Roof, Tevye has two kinds of monologues: those in which he prays, talking directly to God, and those in which he directly addresses the audience. Both kinds of monologues allow Tevye to express his religious beliefs, doubts, worries, and fears. He talks about his failing horse and the problem of supplying a...