What is tone? What is mood?

How do tone/mood affect the meaning of a passage?

Tone and Mood

ToneTone is the AUTHOR’S attitude towards the

audience, the subject or the character.Tone is conveyed through the author’s

word choice and details.

MoodMood is the overall atmosphere of a piece

of literature. The mood is created by the setting, the

characters, and their actions.

Difference Between Tone and MoodTone = PersonMood = Environment

Written ToneVerbal tone is much easier to discern. Teacher Student Older Brother Younger BrotherSometimes, written tone can be more

difficult. When in doubt, readers must sometimes examine the context of the story itself.

In the short story “The Ransom of Red Chief” by O. Henry, two men attempt to kidnap a wealthy man’s son to collect the ransom money. However, the young boy is quite a troublemaker. In fact, they can’t wait to be rid of him. The boy’s father sends this note to the men in regards to their ransom demand:

Gentlemen: I received your letter to-day by post, in regard to the ransom you ask for the return of my son. I think you are a little high in your demands, and I hereby make you a counter-proposition, which I am inclined to believe you will accept. You bring Johnny home and pay me two hundred and fifty dollars in cash, and I agree to take him off your hands. You had better come at night, for the neighbors believe he is lost, and I couldn't be responsible for what they would do to anybody they saw bringing him back.

Very respectfully,EBENEZER DORSET.

Which adjectives best describe the tone of his note?

Describing ToneADJECTIVES must be used to describe tone.Having a healthy “tone vocabulary” makes

this task easier.Consider some words that can describe

tone.Perhaps you thought of sarcastic, sincere,

embarrassed, proud or frightened. There are HUNDREDS of words that can accurately describe tone. The key to choosing the correct one is to carefully consider the author’s word choice.

Describing MoodADJECTIVES must be used to describe MoodRemember that you are NOT describing the

way a person feelsLike tone, mood words can be either

positive or negativeExamples: relaxed, cozy, romantic,

gloomy, frightening, somber