1. Tone vs. Mood: Similar, yet Different
MOOD – is the overall feeling, dominant impression, or emotional climate of a literary work, often developed, at least in part through the description of setting.
TONE – is the author’s attitude toward his or her subject (event, work, characters, or reader) in a literary work.

2. Tone vs. Mood: Bottomline
MOOD – is the feeling you get from the reading
TONE – is the feeling the author is trying to project towards a subject in the reading
** An author will use various words & phrases to create a TONE or MOOD. In order to create a certain MOOD or TONE, an author must focus in on his/her DICTION. **

3. What is DICTION?
DICTION – is word choice. Diction can be formal or informal, abstract or concrete.
** Tone and Mood are influenced by diction. In a literary work, the words an author selects gives off a certain feeling or impression. Word choice is essential in creating that impression. **

4. DICTION: Connotation & Denotation
Diction controls the tone or mood being conveyed by a writer. Knowing that, a writer must choose his/her words carefully because CONNOTATION & DENOTATION.
DENOTATION – refers to the literal or “dictionary” definition of a word.
CONNOTATION – refers to the unspoken or implied meanings associated with a word beyond its literal definition.

5. CONNOTATION vs. DENOTATION
Examples:
Both “Janitor” and “Custodian” denote a person who cleans a building, yet “Custodian” has a more dignified connotation.
“Odor” and fragrance” both denote “smell”, yet “odor” has a negative connotation, and “fragrance” has a more appealing connotation.

6. CONNOTATION vs. DENOTATION
In each item below, you will find three words with
similar denotations, yet their connotation are
different. Identify connotation of each word as:
positive, negative, or neutral
Lazy Relaxed Slow

7. Positive, Negative, or Neutral
mousy shy modest
dignified stiff-necked reserved
stubborn persistent persevering
self-confident proud conceited
curious nosy concerned

8. CONNOTATION vs. DENOTATION
Connotation plays a big role in the search for the “right
word.” In certain contexts, a word’s connotation can
clash with the picture presented.
The senator introduced his mommy to the guests.
The Baroness delicately slurped her soup.
Paul flung down his napkin and pranced out.
The United Nations assembly recessed for chow.
The gale winds hurt several houses in the area.

9. CONNOTATION vs. DENOTATION
In each of the sentences below, one word obviously clashes
with the picture presented. Remove the word and rewrite
the sentence with a more appropriate synonym.
The senator introduced his mommy to the guests.
The Baroness delicately slurped her soup.
Paul flung down his napkin and pranced out.
The United Nations assembly recessed for chow.
The gale winds hurt several houses in the area.