Mood/Tone

MOOD MOOD is the overall feelings or emotions that are created IN THE READER. -The “power of the pen” can move mountains. Authors “move” their readers’ moods through their choice of words and level of detail. Examine the setting and atmosphere of the scene.

How to identify MOOD: FIRST- Identify what is happening in the passage. SECOND- How do YOU (the reader) feel emotionally about what is happening? THIRD- Pick out a more specific word to identify your emotions besides “good,” “bad,” “happy,” “sad,” “angry.”

MOOD EXAMPLE #1 After New Year's the time came to put all the decorations away and settle in for the long, cold winter. The house seemed to sigh as we boxed up its finery. The tree was dry and brittle, and now waited forlornly by the side of the road to be picked up. What is the mood of this passage? Dreary, depressed, gloomy What clues helped you to determine the mood? Cold winter, house seemed to sigh, dry and brittle, forlornly

MOOD EXAMPLE #2 The girls were playing in the pond, splashing each other and trying to catch fish. They were laughing, but kept looking over their shoulders at the looming forest. The long grasses kept moving and they felt like they were being watched… It seemed like a pair of dark eyes were on them. They continued splashing, but the laughter slowed as the stillness crept in. What is the overall mood of this passage? Ominous, eerie, foreboding What words helped you to figure out the tone? Looming forest, watched, dark eyes, stillness crept in

TONE TONE is the author’s attitude toward the subject. You can INFER the tone/attitude by the word choices the author uses. Their language will reveal their perspective or opinion (that is, whether it is positive/negative/neutral) about the subject.

Tone of voice Think about the different ways that your voice can demonstrate tone. Get over here right now, or else. Would you please come to the front of the room? I looooove doing 3 hours of homework on the weekend. I cannot believe that you didn’t tell me what happened!

Connotation Denotation: Definition of a word Connotation is an idea or a feeling that word invokes in addition to its denotation Connotation is positive, negative, or neutral I am stingy. I am a cheapskate. I am thrifty. I am a saver. The guest arrived. The intruder arrived. The immature boy yelled. Old Susan grinned. The naïve boy yelled. Wise Susan grinned. Sampson cackled. Sampson giggled.

How to identify TONE: FIRST- Identify what the passage is about. SECOND- Is the attitude toward the topic positive, negative, or neutral? THIRD- Pick out a more specific way to classify the attitude besides “positive,” “negative,” or “neutral.”

TONE EXAMPLE #1 I want to ask the authorities what is the big deal? Why do they not control the flu epidemic? It is eating up lives like a monster with an insatiable appetite. It is completely unfair that citizens are kept in the dark when their health and safety is at stake! The government needs to step in and make some changes immediately. What is the overall tone of this passage? Demanding, accusatory, aggressive What words helped you to figure out the tone? Eating up lives; unfair; government needs to…; immediately

TONE EXAMPLE #2 The flu epidemic has impacted 20% of our population. Those affected display symptoms like fever, cough, aches, and lethargy. If patients receive treatment, recovery is attained quickly. If untreated, the flu can be fatal. It is recommended that government programs be implemented to decrease the number of flu cases anticipated for this winter. What is the overall tone of this passage? NEUTRAL- objective, impartial, clinical, factual What words helped you figure out the tone? impacted,; 20%; patients; display symptoms; recommended; flu cases

TONE PRACTICE - REVIEW 1. This place may be shabby, but since my children were born while we lived here, it has a special place in my heart. The tone is sentimental. “It has a special place in my heart,” expresses tender emotions. 2. This isn’t the greatest apartment in the world, but it’s not really that bad. The tone is tolerant. The words “not really that bad” show that the writer accepts the situation while recognizing that it could be better.

TONE PRACTICE- REVIEW 3. If only there were some decent jobs out there, I wouldn’t be reduced to living in this miserable dump. The tone is bitter. The writer resents a situation that forces him or her to live in a “miserable dump.” 4. This place does need some repairs, but I’m sure the landlord will be making improvements sometime soon. The tone is optimistic. The writer is expecting the apartment to be improved soon.

TONE PRACTICE- REIVEW 5. When we move away, we’re planning to release three hundred cockroaches and tow mice, so we can leave the place exactly as we found it. The tone is humorous. The writer claims to be planning a comic revenge on the landlord by returning the apartment to the terrible condition it was in when the tenants moved in. 6. This is the apartment we live in. It provides shelter. The tone is objective. The writer does not express feelings about the apartment. He simply states facts.