MOOD & TONE

Mood & Tone

PRESENTATION

Lesson Objective & Essential Questions

Knowledge: Students will be able to define and identify mood and tone in literature. Comprehension: Students will be able to analyze how specific words, phrases, and literary devices contribute to the mood and tone of a text. Application: Students will be able to apply their understanding of mood and tone to analyze and interpret various literary passages. Analysis: Students will be able to evaluate the effectiveness of different moods and tones in conveying the author's purpose. Synthesis: Students will be able to create their own written pieces that effectively utilize mood and tone.

• How do authors create mood and tone in their writing?
• How does mood and tone contribute to the overall meaning and impact of a text?
• How can we use our understanding of mood and tone to enhance our own writing?

Mood- Atmosphere

Mood: is the atmosphere of the text. Mood is a literary element that evokes certain feelings or vibes in readers through words and descriptions. Writers use many devices to create the mood in a text:

• Dialogue (language between the characters)
• Setting (where/when the story takes place, who the characters are, etc.)
• Plot (the rise and fall of action and events throughout the piece)

“The river, reflecting the clear blue of the sky, glistened and sparkled as it flowed noiselessly on.”

Identifying Mood and Tone

EXAMPLE

"It was a dark and stormy night"

“Mood helps in creating an atmosphere in a literary work by means of setting, theme, diction, and tone. It evokes various emotional responses in readers, and thus ensures their emotional attachment to the literary piece they read.”

Important Mood Words

The following are examples of moods that a text can cause the reader to feel:

SUSPICIOUS

EXCITED

HAPPY

SUSPENSE

DEPRESSED

LONELY

EXCITED

ANGRY

ANXIOUS

TENSE

scared

DISGUSTED

Tone vs. Mood

mooD

TONE

• The author’s feelings or attitude towards their subject.
• What tone of voice is the author writing in?
• Ask yourself what word choices show the writer’s attitude about the topic, character, or events.

• The atmosphere or emotion the author creates for the reader.
• What is the reader’s emotional response to the writing?
• Ask yourself how does the reader feel about the topic, character, or events? What is the vibe you get from the writing?

vs

Tone-Attitude

Tone: The writer’s attitude towards the subject of the piece, the audience, and self. Also known as, the way feelings are expressed within a text.

Tone is the feeling that grows out of the material, the feeling that the writer creates for the reader. “I cringe when I think of all the vermin that must reside in there”

“Don’t you use that tone of voice with me!”

• Has anyone ever said to you, "Don't use that tone of voice with me?" Your tone can change the meaning of what you say.
• Tone can turn a statement like, " You're a big help!" into a genuine compliment or a cruel sarcastic remark. It depends on the context of the story.

Tone in Written Language

It is easier to understand tone in spoken language. In writing tone can be more difficult to determine because there are no facial or vocal expressions. Remember the following can help you to identify tone in writing:Tone is conveyed in writing through the use of:

• Diction (the words that the author uses in his/her writing)
• Point of View (the author’s view and how it affects his/her writing)
• Syntax (the arrangement of words to create sentences)
• And, the author’s level of formality (how formal or informal is the piece?)

More Tone Word Examples

• Respectful
• Rueful
• Sad
• Sarcastic
• Sardonic
• Satirical
• Sentimental
• Serious
• Severe
• Sharp
• Silly
• Somber
• Straightforward
• Strident
• Subdued
• Sympathetic
• Thoughtful
• Threatening
• Trenchant
• Uncertain
• Understated
• Whimsical
• Withering
• wry

• Conversational
• Critical
• Cutting
• Cynical
• Defamatory
• Denunciatory
• Detached
• Disdainful
• Disparaging
• Disrespectful
• Doubtful
• Dry
• Enthusiastic
• Eulogistic
• Exhilarated
• Facetious
• Fearful
• Flippant
• Forceful
• Frightening
• Grim
• Harsh
• Haughty

• Humorous
• Hypercritical
• Indifferent
• Indignant
• Ironic
• Irreverent
• Joyful
• Laudatory
• Lighthearted
• Loving
• Melancholy
• Mistrustful
• Mocking
• Mysterious
• Neutral
• Nostalgic
• Objective
• Peaceful
• Pessimistic
• Playful
• Pragmatic
• Questioning
• Reproachful

• Abusive
• Accepting
• Acerbic
• Admiring
• Angry
• Anxious
• Apprehensive
• Approving
• Ardent
• Awestruck
• Biting
• Bitter
• Brisk
• Bristling
• Brusque
• Calm
• Cavalier
• Censorious
• Cold
• Complimentary
• Confident
• Confused
• Contemptuous

Assignment

HAPPY POEM

• This poem’s tone is___
• This poem’s mood is___
• The key words that prove my answers are:
• Now, change those key words in the poem to create an entirely different mood or tone! Be creative!

Thank you