Tone is the author's attitude towards the subject, characters or events of a story.It is possible to become a better reader by understanding the tone of a literary work.It is possible that you need to analyze the tone of a literary work for an assignment.Common tones in literature are used to analyze tone.If you want to get high marks on your essay, you need to know the tone of a literary work.
Step 1: The tone may be solemn or gloomy.
A solemn or gloomy tone is one of the most common tones in literature.If it is solemn, the tone comes across as bleak or dark.You can respond to a work of literature by feeling sad.Donald Barthelme's short story "The School" is a good example of a solemn or gloomy tone.
Step 2: There is a suspenseful tone.
A suspenseful tone in literature creates a sense of dread and anticipation in the reader.As you read a literary work with a suspenseful tone, you may feel like you're on the edge of your seat.In the short story "The Lottery", there is a good example of a suspenseful tone.
Step 3: Take note of the tone.
A humorous work of literature can make the reader laugh or smile.It can be playful, witty, or ironic.Sometimes writers use a humorous tone to counter a solemn tone in their work.Shel Silverstein's poem "Snowball" is a good example of a humorous tone.
Step 4: There is a sarcastic tone.
A sarcastic tone is used to make the reader laugh.It might come across as critical and biting.A sarcastic tone can be found in novels and short stories if the narrator has a dry sense of humor.J.D.'s novel The Catcher in the Rye is a good example of a sarcastic tone.Salinger.
Step 5: Tone and genre are connected.
The genre of the piece can give you clues about the tone.A humorous tone is often found in works of comedy and satire while a suspenseful tone can be seen in thrillers.
Step 6: There is a difference between tone and mood in literature.
It can be difficult to distinguish between mood and tone in literature.The setting and atmosphere of a text are different from tone.The reader's response to the tone of the work creates the mood.The writer's ability to convey emotion in the reader shapes both mood and tone.If a story is set in an abandoned cabin in the woods, it may have a frightening mood.The main character may use a gloomy or depressing tone to describe the cabin in the woods to the reader.
Step 7: Look at the word choice and language.
Tone can be determined by paying attention to the words and language used by the author.The author chose words to describe the scene.Think about why certain words were used.How do these choices create tone?I don't know why the trees all died, they just died.In the passage, Barthelme creates a solemn, gloomy tone by using words like "depressing," "dead," and "something wrong with the soil possibly or maybe the stuff we got from the nursery wasn't the best."
Step 8: The sentence structure should be looked at.
You can notice how the sentences are structured by reading a few lines.The sentences are short and often don't vary in length.The sentences are long and winding down the page.A meditative or thoughtful tone could be created by this.In many thrillers, the sentences are short and to the point.This can help to create a tense tone.
Step 9: Take a look at the imagery.
The imagery used by the author to describe a setting, scene, or character can be used to determine the tone of a piece.The piece will have a certain tone to it.The author's tone can be tipped off by strong imagery.If a person's face is described as glowing with happiness and excitement, this may create a joyful tone.If a cabin in the woods is described as grim with the fingerprints of the previous inhabitants, this may create a suspenseful tone.
Step 10: Determine if the author uses irony.
There are different types of irony.If the expectations and reality of the situation are incongruous, a situation is ironic.Irony is tied to sarcasm, but not always.If someone says, "Good thing I wore my parka today" when the temperature is 85 F, they're using verbal irony.
Step 11: The work needs to be read loud.
You can get a better sense of the piece's meaning by reading it out loud.Diction is how words sound next to each other.When a work is read out loud, you can hear how each word sounds and pay attention to how this creates a certain tone to the piece.You can read the following lines from The Catcher in the Rye out loud to determine the tone.The use of "god damn" and "blue as hell" gives the line a sarcastic or bitter tone, with a hint of humor and sadness.
Step 12: A work can have more than one tone.
It is common for an author to use more than one tone in a novel.The tone of the work varies from chapter to chapter, narrator to narrator, or scene to scene.This can be used to get into the voice of a character or to signal a shift in the action of the piece.A novel may begin with a humorous tone and shift into a more serious tone as the author explores a character's history or personal relationships.
Step 13: It's a good idea to use adjectives.
The more specific you are when describing the tone, the more insightful your analysis will be.You can use more than one word if you want to make your description more accurate.
Step 14: Provide information from the text.
Use a few quotes from the text to back up your argument after describing the tone in detail.Pick quotes that show the tone based on word choice, language, and imagery.You can use the last line of the book as an example: "So we beat on, boats against the current, and return to the past."
Step 15: There are different tones in the same work.
You should compare the different tones in your analysis if there is more than one tone in the work.The literary work can be long, such as a novel or an epic poem.The literary work has shifts in tone.Discuss how the tone affects you as a reader.If there are changes in perspective or viewpoint that coincide with specific characters.Chapter 13's tone shifts from a humorous tone to a more serious tone.The narrator talks about their mother's illness and death.
Step 16: The tone should be linked to other literary elements.
Depending on the scope of the assignment, make sure your analysis of tone is connected to other elements such as mood, plot, theme, and style.The tone of a work can be used to create a mood or illustrate a larger theme.Tone can be linked to other elements to make your analysis stronger.You can link the nostalgic, solemn tone of the closing line to the themes of remembrance, loss, and thwarted love in the novel.