Passage - TONE

Rain fell as it had never fallen before. For days and nights together it
poured down in violent torrents, and washed away the yam heaps. Trees
were uprooted and deep gorges appeared everywhere. Then the rain
became less violent. But it went from day to day without a pause. The spell
of sunshine which always came in the middle of the wet season did not
appear. The yams put on luxuriant green leaves, but every farmer knew
that without sunshine the tubers would not grow (page 24).
Tone
- The perspective of the narrator is that of a storyteller. It is neutral and informative. The story is
told in third person, as the narrator is not a character.
- The reactions of the narrator can be described as objective. The reader is often lead to judge
for themselves the actions and words of the characters.
- The word choice of this passage sets the tone by giving details through others point of view.
For example, by saying every farmer knew that without sunshine the tubers would not grow,
the narrator takes him/herself out of it entirely. Throughout the novel, the reader is given
information through characters point of view, rather than the narrator merely telling how it is
(ex: without the sunshine the tubers would not grow).
- In three words, the TONE of the novel, as indicated by this passage, is

a) Objective
b) Unconcerned
c) Impartial
Passage - MOOD
Inwardly Okonkwo knew that the boys were still too young to understand fully
the difficult art of preparing seed-yams. Yam stood for manliness, and he who
could feed his family on yams from one harvest to another was a very great man
indeed. Okonkwo wanted his son to be a great farmer and a great man. He
would stamp out the disquieting signs of laziness which he thought he already
saw in him (page 32).
Mood
- This passage makes me feel disheartened. I understand what its like to be a parent and why
Okonkwo would be frustrated with his son not showing certain skills. I also understand what
its like to be a child who feels unaccepted by their parent.
- This passage uses the association of yams with manliness to set a mood of disappointment and
discontent.
- In general, the emotions of the characters in my novel are nervous, grumpy, irritated, busy,
mellow, determined, serious
- In three words, the MOOD of the passage, is...

a) Merciless
b) Disappointed
c) Tense