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How do you compare different tones in a literary work?
What is tone in literature?
Why do authors use a different tone in writing?
How do you determine tone in a literary work?
What are the different types of tones in literature?
What is the difference between mood and tone in literature?
As literary devices, tone and mood may seem interchangeable. Though they are similar, they are independent of each other and serve different purposes in a literary work. Tone signifies the point of view of the writer, whereas mood serves to convey the atmosphere of a written work and its overall feeling or vibe.
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- Overview
- Recognizing Common Tones in Literature
- Determining the Tone in a Literary Work
- Describing the Tone in a Literary Work
In literature, tone refers to the author's attitude toward the subject, characters or events of a story.
Understanding the tone of a literary work can help you become a better reader. You may also need to analyze the tone of a literary work for an essay or assignment for class. To analyze tone, start by recognizing common tones in literature. Then, determine the tone in a literary work and describe it effectively so you get high marks on your essay.
Notice if the tone is solemn or gloomy.
One of the most common tones in literature is a solemn or gloomy tone, where the tone feels heavy or serious. Often the tone comes across as bleak or dark if it is solemn. You may respond to a solemn literary work by feeling sad or unsettled.
A good example of a solemn or gloomy tone is in the short story “The School” by Donald Barthelme.
Another common tone in literature is a suspenseful tone, which creates a sense of dread and anticipation in the reader. Often, you may feel on the edge of your seat or full of anxiety as you read a literary work with a suspenseful tone.
A good example of a suspenseful tone is in the short story “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson.
Take note of a humorous tone.
Notice the word choice and language.
One way you can determine tone in a literary work is to pay attention to the words and language used by the author.
Consider why the author chose certain words or language to describe a scene. Think about why certain words were used to discuss a character. Think about how these choices create tone.
For example, you may study a passage from the short story “The School:" “And the trees all died...I don't know why they died, they just died. Something wrong with the soil possibly or maybe the stuff we got from the nursery wasn't the best...All these kids looking at these little brown sticks, it was depressing.”
In the passage, Barthelme creates a solemn, gloomy tone by using words like “depressing,” “dead,” “died,” and “wrong.”
Lady Macbeth uses the word damn in the play Macbeth.
To describe the tone of the literary work, use specific adjectives that illustrate which tone the narrator is using, such as “gloomy,” “solemn,” “humorous,” or “sarcastic.” The more specific you are when describing the tone, the more insightful your analysis will be.
For example, you may write, “The author uses words like “super,” “stoked,” “awesome,” and “exhilarating” to create an upbeat tone.”
You can use more than one adjective if this will make your description more accurate.
Provide evidence from the text.
After describing the tone in detail, use a few quotes from the text to back up your argument. Pick quotes that clearly illustrate tone based on word choice, language, diction, or imagery.
For example, if you are writing about
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Aug 21, 2023 · Using Tone in Different Genres. Every genre of writing has its unique tone. Understanding this can help you make your writing more engaging and meaningful. Let's explore how tone works in different genres: Fiction: In fiction, the author's tone can make you feel like you're part of the story. A suspenseful tone can keep you on the edge of your ...
May 10, 2024 · In literature, tone refers to the attitude or mood a text conveys, shaped by the author's choice of words and formatting. Tone can be intimate or distant, cheerful or sad — it’s a literary device writers use to convey the emotional quality of a moment and keep readers engaged throughout a story.
Tone has to do with the attitude of the author or the person speaking, whereas mood is how the work makes the reader feel. The author's intentions, emotions, and personal ideas about the theme or subject matter often reveal themselves in the piece's tone.
Jun 7, 2021 · Understanding Tone: 18 Examples of Tone Words in Writing. Of all the literary elements that go into a work of fiction—subject matter, story, character, setting, figurative language, literary devices, and more—tone may be the hardest to concretely define.
Aug 19, 2021 · Though the literary terms "tone" and "mood” may seem interchangeable, they are not synonyms.
