Tone

and
Mood
inaText

Tone
:The
style
or
manner
inwhichawriter
useswords.Toneis
usuallydeterminedby
how
wordsarebeing
used.

Examplesofwordsthat
describe
awriterstone
AmusedHumorousIronicSeriousExaggerated
PessimisticAngryWittyFormalLight
OptimisticGloomySuspiciousResignedHorror
InformalPlayfulCheerfulSadPompous
SarcasticFunApologeticCondescending

Tonescangenerallybedivided

into
positive
and
negative
categories.

ExamplesofDifferentTones
Idliketomeetthegeniuswhodesignedthiscomputerthatfreezesallthetime.
[
Sarcastic
Tone]

Pleasebringyourmaterialsandreporttoroom104fordetentionafterschooltoday.
[
Serious
Tone]

Remembertowearschoolcolorsforspiritday!
[
Fun
Tone]

Iwouldtakethetimetoexplainittoyou,butIdontthinkyouwouldunderstandit.
[
Condescending
Tone]

ImsorrythatIwasmeantoyoulastyear.Itreallymusthavebeenhurtful.Pleaseforgivemeforcallingyou
namesandmakinguprumorsaboutyou.
[
Apologetic
Tone]

IdontthinkImgoingtothepartytonight.IjustdontreallyfeellikeitIjustwanttobealone.[
Sad
Tone]

Mypenismissingfrommydesk,andIthoughtthatIsawyouusingit.Couldyouexplaintomewhereitis?
[
Suspicious
Mood]

Mood
:Awriterdirectly
useswordstocreatean
atmosphere
or
general
feeling
inapassage.Tone
isusuallydeterminedby
what

wordsareused.

Examplesofwordsthatareusedto
create
moodinatext
FancifulMelancholyFrighteningSpookyEerie
MysteriousFrustratingRomanticSorrowfulJoyful
GloomySentimentalHappySuspensefulScary
PeacefulNostalgic

Moodscanalsogenerallybedivided
into
positive
and
negative
categories.

ExamplesofMoodInTexts
Theriver,reflectingtheclearblueofthesky,glistenedandsparkledasitflowednoiselesslyon.
CharlesDickens,
ThePickwickPapers
[
Peaceful
Mood]

Theeeriehouseonthecornerismissingallbutoneofitswindows.Spraypaintlitterstheoutsidewalls,and
dark
windowsgreetanyone
braveenough
towalkuptothefrontdoor.
[
Scary
Mood]

Kevinlostyetanotheroneofhispencils,andjustrealizedthathedforgottenhislunch
and
hishomeworkat
home.Hehadasinkingfeelingabouttherestoftheday,andstartedtofeelveryupset.
[
Frustrating
Mood]

WalkingdownthisroadmakesmeremembertheyearswhenIwaslittle.Ilovedridingmybikeandskiddingthe
tirearoundthatcornerrightthere,andIevenbrokemyarmwhenIslippedandfelloutoftheoaktreeover
there.Allmyfriendssignedmycast.Theicecreamtruckcamethiswayalmosteveryafternooninthesummer,
andwewouldyelltoeachothertocomeoutsowecouldgeticecream.
[
Sentimental/

Nostalgic
Mood]

Thenoisesstartedsometimeinthenight,duringthehourwhenthemoonwasatitshighest.Notscreams,
exactly.Morelikemoans.Howls.SoundsIcouldntputanameto.Ilayinbed,wideawake,staringattheodd
shapesthemoonlightthrewagainstthewhitewashedwalls.Icouldnttellwhattypeofcreaturehewasworkingon
inthatbloodred,windowlesslaboratory.Idheardthepanthermakealltypesofhowlsandcriesontheship,but
nothinglikewhatcamefromthatbuilding.Whateveritwas,itwaslarge.[
Horrific
Mood]