Tone, Mood, and Imagery
Tone Definition: Tone is the attitude a writer takes toward a subject. To identify it: Read a passage carefully to yourself. Identify any direct statements about the subject. Try reading it aloud. Imagine that the author is speaking the words. Use what you have learned to suggest a word or words to describe the tone of the passage.
Examples of Tone Literary works can exhibit a wide variety of tones, including: DisgustAngerHappiness SadnessSincerityGratefulness ExcitementDepressionSorrow SarcasmAnxietyAffection
Mood Definition: Mood is the feeling you get as you read a poem or story. Literary elements help to set the mood of a written work. These can include: ImagesSimilesMetaphors PersonificationSound EffectsPlot Twists SymbolsOnomatopoeiaDescription
Imagery Definition: Imagery is language that appeals to the five senses. A writer uses sensory details to appeal to readers’ senses. In turn, readers form images—sights, sounds, sensations/movements, smells, and tastes—in their minds. Individual images and imagery (a collection of images) lead the reader to the work’s meaning.