Welcome back! In our last lesson, you learned how to use the SWBST framework to summarize a story, which is a fantastic skill for understanding what happens in a narrative. Now that you can identify the core events, we're going to explore how an author's attitude shapes our experience of those events.
This lesson focuses on identifying the tone of a passage. For an aspiring writer, understanding tone is fundamental. It’s the tool you use to guide your reader's feelings, to make a scene feel tense, funny, or sad. By learning to recognize tone in the works of others, you are taking the first step toward mastering it in your own writing. This will sharpen your analytical skills and contribute to your goal of developing a strong literary intellect.
Today, we will cover:
- The definition of tone and how it's conveyed in writing.
- The important difference between tone and mood.
- The specific techniques authors use to create tone, such as word choice and sentence structure.
- How to identify a variety of tones, from humorous to serious to suspenseful.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to analyze a passage and confidently identify the author's tone, a key component of literary analysis.
What is Tone?
In everyday conversation, we use our tone of voice, facial expressions, and body language to show our attitude. Is a simple phrase like "What a great idea!" sincere or sarcastic? The way we say it makes all the difference. Writers don't have these physical cues, so they must use words to create the same effect.
To begin, let's watch a video that uses a very modern and relatable example—text messages and emojis—to introduce the concept of tone.
"What is Tone in Literature?": A Literary Guide for English Students and Teachers
This video, from the OSU School of Writing, Literature and Film, provides an excellent and easy-to-understand introduction to literary tone.
Watch the first two sections of the video. Pay attention to the opening example from the beginning to the emoji section to see how attitude is conveyed. Then, continue through the formal definition of literary tone from the next segment, which explains why it's trickier to spot in literature.
As the video explains, literary tone is the attitude that a character, narrator, or author takes towards a given subject. This attitude can be anything a person can feel: amused, angry, formal, nostalgic, critical, and so on.
Tone vs. Mood: A Crucial Distinction
Before we go further, it's essential to clarify the difference between two commonly confused terms: tone and mood.
- Tone is about the author's (or speaker's) attitude. It's how they feel about the subject they are writing about.
- Mood is about the reader's feeling. It's the emotional atmosphere that the text creates for you, the reader.
Often, tone and mood are related. A sarcastic tone might create a humorous mood. A somber tone might create a sad mood. However, they are not the same.
For a more detailed explanation of this distinction, let's turn to a written resource.
Tone - Definition and Examples - LitCharts
This article from LitCharts offers a very clear and concise breakdown of tone and how it differs from mood.
Please read the following two sections: Start at the beginning with the definition of tone. Then, scroll down to the heading "The Difference Between Tone and Mood" and read that section carefully, starting from the first paragraph.
How Do Writers Create Tone?
Writers have a toolbox of techniques to establish tone. As a reader, your job is to look for clues in their use of these tools. The most important ones are:
- Diction (Word Choice): Are the words formal or informal? Simple or complex? Do they have positive or negative connotations?
- Syntax (Sentence Structure): Are the sentences long and flowing, or short and punchy? Simple or complex?
- Punctuation: An exclamation mark can show excitement or urgency, while ellipses (...) can suggest hesitation or suspense.
- Figurative Language: The use of metaphors, similes, and personification can create a specific feeling about a subject.
Let's focus on diction, as it is one of the most powerful indicators of tone. The following video provides a fun and clear example of how analyzing an author's specific word choices reveals their attitude.
Analyzing tone through word choice | Reading | Khan Academy
This Khan Academy video, "Analyzing tone through word choice," uses a passage comparing different types of hot dogs to demonstrate how to find the tone.
Watch from the section on analyzing word choice. Notice how the speaker breaks down phrases like "holier-than-thou prohibition" and "dubious dirty water" to figure out the author's slightly humorous and critical tone towards Chicago and New York hot dogs.
Now, let's see how figurative language contributes to tone. Re-watch a segment from the first video about Claude McKay’s poem, "The Harlem Dancer."
"What is Tone in Literature?": A Literary Guide for English Students and Teachers
This is the same video as before from the OSU School of Writing, Literature and Film.
Watch the section from the analysis of "The Harlem Dancer". Pay attention to how the speaker uses a simile ("like the sound of blended flutes") and a metaphor ("a proudly-swaying palm") to establish a reverential and sympathetic tone toward the dancer, contrasting it with the audience's less noble view.
Building Your Vocabulary of Tone
To identify tone, you need the right words to describe it. Is the author being cynical or sarcastic? Reflective or melancholic? Building a rich vocabulary for tone is essential.
Here are a few examples:
- Formal: "Upon analysis of the data, it's evident that the proposed hypothesis is substantiated."
- Informal: "Hey folks, today we'll be chatting about the latest trends in tech."
- Sarcastic: "Oh great, another diet plan. Just what I needed!"
- Optimistic: "Despite the setbacks, we remain confident in our ability to achieve our goals."
- Suspenseful: "With the approaching footsteps echoing in his ears, he quickly hid in the dark alcove, heart pounding."
For a comprehensive list to expand your vocabulary, the following resource is excellent. Don't feel you need to memorize them all at once, but use it as a reference to become familiar with the range of possible tones.
Tone in Writing: 42 Examples of Tone For All Types of Writing
This article from The Write Practice provides an extensive list of different tones, each with a clear example sentence.
Please read the section titled "42 Types of Tone in Writing Plus Examples of Tone." As you read, notice how a single sentence can powerfully establish a specific attitude.
The Complexity of Tone
Just like human emotions, tone is not always simple or static. A single piece of writing can have a complex mix of tones, or the tone can shift as the narrative progresses. The best authors create this nuance intentionally.
Let's look at one final example that illustrates this complexity.
"What is Tone in Literature?": A Literary Guide for English Students and Teachers
We return one last time to the OSU video.
Watch the final section from this part of the video, which analyzes Elizabeth Bishop's poem "Questions of Travel." Notice how the speaker's tone shifts from being overwhelmed and uncomfortable to one of appreciation and wonder. This shows that we shouldn't always look for one single, simple tone.
Practice: Putting It All Together
Now it's time to test your new skills. Read the following ten sentences and try to identify the tone of each one. Use the list of 42 tones you reviewed as a guide if you need help finding the right word.
- “The participants in the study displayed a significant improvement in their cognitive abilities post intervention.”
- “Hey guys, just popping in to share some cool updates from our team!”
- “The consequences of climate change are dire and demand immediate attention from world leaders.”
- “I told my wife she should embrace her mistakes. She gave me a hug.”
- “Despite the challenges we've faced this year, I'm confident that brighter days are just around the corner.”
- “Given the state of the economy, it seems unlikely that we'll see any significant improvements in the near future.”
- “No mountain is too high to climb if you believe in your ability to reach the summit.”
- “As she stepped onto the cobblestone streets of the ancient city, the echoes of its rich history whispered in her ears.”
- “Oh, you're late again? What a surprise.”
- “The methodology of this research hinges upon a quantitative approach, using statistical analysis to derive meaningful insights from the collected data.”
Take a few minutes to write down your answers. Once you're ready, you can check them using the resource below.
Tone in Writing: 42 Examples of Tone For All Types of Writing
The answers to the exercise are provided at the end of the same article you reviewed earlier.
Scroll down to the section titled "PRACTICE." The answers for the "Identify the Tone" exercise are listed right there. Compare your answers to the provided key. How did you do?
Conclusion
You've done excellent work today, moving from the plot of a story to the feeling behind it. Understanding tone is a sophisticated reading skill that unlocks a deeper layer of meaning in any text and is a critical foundation for your own fiction writing.
Here are the key takeaways from our lesson:
- Tone is the author's or speaker's attitude toward their subject.
- Tone is distinct from mood, which is the feeling the reader gets from the text.
- Writers create tone through tools like diction (word choice), syntax (sentence structure), and figurative language.
- Tone can be complex and may shift throughout a piece of writing.
In our next lesson, we will put these new analytical skills to practical use by learning how to use a reading journal. This will be your personal space to record new vocabulary, summarize passages, analyze tone, and capture all your thoughts and observations as you continue your journey as a reader and writer.