1. Understanding
Author’s Tone
And Mood

2. Let’s Review…

3. MOOD

4. What is Mood? What is mood?
How the reader feels after reading the text.
What does the author use to help create the mood?
details in the story & words

5. Tricks for Remembering…
Imagine a key scene from a story as a movie
For example: What sort of music would be playing in the background? Do you imagine something dark and moody, light and peppy, somber and thoughtful, etc.?
Music is a tool often used in movies to emphasize mood!
Take a look at the descriptions in your story. A story with a dark, ominous tone will probably have more negative descriptions than a light, happy comedy. A story with a suspenseful, adventurous tone will probably have lots of short sentences and brief, matter-of-fact descriptions. A sad, romantic story will often have long, detailed, sentimental descriptions. Try to visualize the scene and hear the characters voices as you read, and you'll be able to pick out the tone in no time. (Cue the triumphant music!)
Tone=your mouth; mood=your heart (how you feel)

6. For Example…
Sleepless in Seattle (original trailer): mood=happy, romantic, loving

7. For Example…
Sleepless in Seattle (thriller trailer): mood=scary, thrilling, edge-of-seat, horror

8. Examples in text What’s the mood?
During the holidays, my mother's house glittered with decorations and hummed with preparations. We ate cookies and drank cider while we helped her wrap bright packages and trim the tree. We felt warm and excited, listening to Christmas carols and even singing along sometimes. We would tease each other about our terrible voices and then sing even louder.
What’s the mood?

9. Examples in text
During the holidays, my mother's house glittered with decorations and hummed with preparations. We ate cookies and drank cider while we helped her wrap bright packages and trim the tree. We felt warm and excited, listening to Christmas carols and even singing along sometimes. We would tease each other about our terrible voices and then sing even louder.
Mood: Content, happy. How do we know? Words like “glittered,” “hummed,” “bright,” etc., are used by the author.

10. Examples in text
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 lonely, by the side of the road to be picked up.
What’s the mood?

11. Examples in text
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 lonely, by the side of the road to be picked up.
Mood: Dreary, depressed. How do we know? “long,” “cold,” “sigh,” “dry,” etc.

12. TONE

13. What is Tone?
The tone of a text tells you how the author feels about the subject- his or her attitude.
Tone can be understood by looking for positive (+), negative (-), or neutral language used by the author.

14. What is Tone?
Tone is created by words, details, and sentence structures. Like mood, it must be INFERRED!
Examples:
Look at the different examples of s sent about a copy machine.

15. What is Tone?
Our copier is broken (again) because it is the devil. It needs fixed or put out of its misery. Would you please send someone to fix it? I’d fix it myself, but I’m afraid I’d throw it out the window. Thanks so much!
Our copier is broken. I tried fixing it, but I was unable to and probably made it worse. I’d greatly appreciate it if you could send someone out to fix it immediately since I have to make copies for my next class. Thank you kindly for your assistance!
I’m not sure what is going on down in the office, but our machines constantly break. Could someone fix it? This is frustrating when I’m trying to do my job, and you can’t ensure properly working machinery.
funny (“the devil”; “throw out the window”)
urgent; nice (“fix immediately”; “thank you kindly”)
angry/come off as mean/offensive

16. Tricks for Remembering…
Think of tone of voice
For example: When your parent/guardian tells you to take out the garbage, and you say, “I don’t want to!” or “No!” Your mom/dad/guardian might say, “Don’t use that tone with me!”

17. Tricks for Remembering…
Think of a song
For example: The music to a song is the mood, and the words are the tone.

18. Examples in Text
The homeless face terrible problems. Many become victims of violence. Serious health problems may begin because they are exposed to bad weather and unclean conditions. Homeless children may miss the chance to go to school. Worst of all, some cities pass laws that make it even harder on the homeless.
The tone of this passage is:
a. positive
b. neutral
c. negative
Which word BEST describes the author’s attitude (tone) toward the problems of the homeless?
a. upset
b. uncaring
c. amused

19. Examples in Text
The homeless face terrible problems. Many become victims of violence. Serious health problems may begin because they are exposed to bad weather and unclean conditions. Homeless children may miss the chance to go to school. Worst of all, some cities pass laws that make it even harder on the homeless.
The tone of this passage is:
a. positive
b. neutral
c. negative
Which word BEST describes the author’s attitude (tone) toward the problems of the homeless?
a. upset
b. uncaring
c. amused
Author’s attitude is that they are upset with the way homeless are treated. He/She is using negative words to convey that feeling.

20. Examples in Text
Donovan and Larry were early for baseball practice. They decided to run up and down the bleachers to exercise before the rest of the team arrived. Larry was first to the top. He whispered to Donovan, “Look over there.” He pointed to a man sleeping on the highest, narrow bench of the bleachers. His pants and shirt were faded, worn, and too large for his thin frame. One big toe stuck out of a huge hole in his sock. His scraped-up shoes sat a few feet away. Donovan whispered, “We should help him out. Let’s hide something good in his shoes. Then, when he wakes up, he will have a nice surprise.” Larry smiled. He enjoyed giving to others.
Which word BEST describes the author’s attitude (tone) toward the homeless man?
a. angry
b. uncaring
c. sympathetic
The tone of this passage is:
a. positive
b. neutral
c. negative

21. Examples in Text
Donovan and Larry were early for baseball practice. They decided to run up and down the bleachers to exercise before the rest of the team arrived. Larry was first to the top. He whispered to Donovan, “Look over there.” He pointed to a man sleeping on the highest, narrow bench of the bleachers. His pants and shirt were faded, worn, and too large for his thin frame. One big toe stuck out of a huge hole in his sock. His scraped-up shoes sat a few feet away. Donovan whispered, “We should help him out. Let’s hide something good in his shoes. Then, when he wakes up, he will have a nice surprise.” Larry smiled. He enjoyed giving to others.
Which word BEST describes the author’s attitude (tone) toward the homeless man?
a. angry
b. uncaring
c. sympathetic
The tone of this passage is:
a. positive
b. neutral
c. negative

22. Review
Mood is how the author wants the reader to feel after reading the text .
Tone is how the author feels about his or her subject.
Tone can often create mood. The tone of the author makes the reader feel a certain way
Look for words or details in the story that can help you understand mood and tone.

23. Final Example
The girls were playing in the pond, splashing each other and trying to catch fish with their hands. They were having fun, but kept looking over their shoulders at the looming forest. The long grass of the field kept moving and they sort of felt like they were being watched… About a half hour passed and still the girls kept checking the field for movements. It seemed like a pair of dark eyes was on them. They even considered going back inside, but that would mean homework time. So they continued splashing, but with caution now. Their eyes hardly left the field. The tone of this passage is threatening, suggesting a mood of fear and suspense. Words like "caution, dark, and looming” lead readers to the tone. Phrases like “looking over their shoulders,” “being watched,” and “checking the field for movement” lead readers to the mood.

24. Tone and Mood together
During the holidays, my mother's house glittered with decorations and hummed with preparations. We ate cookies and drank cider while we helped her wrap bright packages and trim the tree. We felt warm and excited, listening to Christmas carols and even singing along sometimes. We would tease each other about our terrible voices and then sing even louder.
Mood: Mood: Content, happy. How do we know? Words like “glittered,” “hummed,” “bright,” etc., are used by the author.
What is the author’s TONE in this passage?
Tone: nostalgic (sentimental; remembering the past and the memories it had; reflective); loving; familial (family-oriented)