Tone & Mood
Tone & Mood Tone & mood are easy to mix up. The main difference is this: The tone is the author and/or speaker’s attitude toward what they’re talking about. For tone, you want to pay attention to the diction (the adjectives and verbs) that the author uses. Sam is the kind of person that makes you just feel dirty and dumb hanging around him. What is the tone? It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining bright and I had all my friends with me. I preferred to stay outside rather than go into that abandoned house. First, ask yourself what the subject is. What is the author talking about? Then ask yourself, based on the context, what do you think the author’s opinion toward the subject is? Positive? Negative? Or neutral? Then use more specifics words on the sheet in front of you. Keep in mind that, depending on the context, the author could be criticizing or praising “Sam”; if the last one I had the word “creepy” involved, how would it change it?
Tone & Mood Tone & mood are easy to mix up. The main difference is this: The mood is what the reader is feeling as they’re reading. What are the emotions that are coming up? For mood, you want to pay attention to the imagery that the author uses. It was a dark and stormy night. The rain smashed against the old shingles of the creaky house. What is the mood? The lights were bright, the food was plentiful, and everyone was dancing. The man screamed at the orphan, “You’re never to come back to the orphanage!” “But where will I go?” the young child cried, tears running down his dirt-splotched face.
Tone & Mood The tone & mood could change throughout the story, book, poem, or song. What are some stories or songs you can think of where the character changes their tone toward something by the end? Keep in mind nonfiction has a tone too. Elephants are beautiful creatures that are in danger of being hunted to death. What is the tone/attitude of the author toward elephants? Toward hunters?
Mary Shelly - Frankenstein First of all, what is the subject? Now, what is the narrator’s tone toward the subject? Oh! No mortal could support the horror of that countenance. A mummy again endued with animation could not be so hideous as that wretch. I had gazed on him while unfinished; he was ugly then; but when those muscles and joints were rendered capable of motion, it became a thing such as even Dante could not have conceived.
Robert Frost - “The Road Not Taken” First of all, what is the subject? Now, what is the narrator’s tone toward the subject? "I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." Keep in mind, tone is debatable—your goal is not to prove that there is only one right answer, but to show that you can back up your opinion with evidence. In other words, why do you believe the tone is this? (People have a multitude of different interpretations of this poem)
Ex: Lady Gaga – Bad Romance As you’re listening to this song, what do you think the speaker feels about the guy she’s talking about? First ask yourself: “Is it positive, negative or neutral?”
Ex: Lady Gaga – Bad Romance I want your ugly, I want your disease I want your everything as long as it's free I want your love Love, love, love, I want your love I want your drama, the touch of your hand I want your leather studded kiss in the sand (Love, love, love, I want your love) You know that I want you And you know that I need you I want it bad, bad romance I want your love, and I want your revenge You and me could write a bad romance I want your love, and all your love is revenge Read more: LADY GAGA - BAD ROMANCE LYRICS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6IZzqMGj84
Lifehouse – “You and Me” As you’re listening to this song, what do you think the speaker feels about the girl he’s talking about? First ask yourself: “Is it positive, negative or neutral?”
Lifehouse “You and Me” What day is it? And in what month? This clock never seemed so alive I can't keep up and I can't back down I've been losing so much time 'Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do Nothing to lose And it's you and me and all other people And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you None of the things that I want to say just aren't coming out right I'm tripping on words You've got my head spinning I don't know where to go from here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac3HkriqdGQ
Adele – Someone Like You As you’re listening to this song, what do you think the speaker feels about the guy she’s talking about? First ask yourself: “Is it positive, negative or neutral?”
Adele – Someone Like You I heard that you're settled down That you found a girl and you're married now. I heard that your dreams came true. Guess she gave you things I didn't give to you. Old friend, why are you so shy? Ain't like you to hold back or hide from the light. I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it. I had hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded That for me it isn't over. Never mind, I'll find someone like you I wish nothing but the best for you too Don't forget me, I beg I remember you said, "Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead, Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLQl3WQQoQ0 Do you always have to trust the narrator? When she says, “Never mind, I’ll find someone like you,” do you believe her?
O.A.R. - Shattered As you’re listening to this song, what do you think the speaker feels about the girl he’s talking about? First ask yourself: “Is it positive, negative or neutral?”
O.A.R. - Shattered In a way, I need a change From this burnout scene Another time, another town, another everything But it's always back to you Stumble out in the night From the pouring rain Made the block, sat and thought There's more I need It's always back to you But I'm good without ya Yeah I'm good without you Yeah, yeah, yeah How many times can I break til I shatter? Over the line, can't define what I'm after I always turn the car around Give me a break; let me make my own pattern All that it takes is some time But I'm shattered http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa5Mawz92xU What words stand out to you here? What imagery does “shatter” make you think of?
Love Songs You’re going to be creating a tone & mode collage using a mix of words and pictures. Think of it as a visual essay—explain why you believe the song has this tone/mood. Choose a love song and then reflect on the author’s tone and your mood when you listen to it. Create two sides: one for tone, and one for mood. Write down only 2-3 tone words for each. Make a collage of the specific lyrics that explain why you think the song has that tone/mood, and then add visuals that reflect your opinions.