Determining the Author’s Mood and Tone of the passage.
The difficult but subtle task of a good reader is to
identify the tone or attitude revealed by an author in
a piece of writing. Any human emotion may
become the author's tone. Gestures, voice inflections, pauses, facial movement,
even the sparkle of his eye can reveal a speaker's attitude toward his subject.
However, an author's attitude or tone has to be inferred from less obvious
clues. To avoid inaccurate interpretations, you, as a reader, must heed whether
the author is serious, humorous, witty, ironic, patriotic, sentimental,
defensive, moralizing, compassionate, pessimistic, cynical, nostalgic,
satirical, critical, horrifying, or rejoicing in his attitude toward
his subject. Remember, an author may color his ideas with these or any
other emotions.
The perceptive reader recognizes these attitudes or
tones by identifying the subject, the length and flow
of the sentences, the atmosphere, the work
connotations, the point of view and purpose of the author. In an effective
piece, the author creatively and thoughtfully blends many elements together to
unify and focus an overall tone which reflects his attitude. Some explanations
and examples follow.
NOSTALGIC TONE. Reveals a kind of homesickness for
the past, a desire to return to "the good ole days." The following
statement reflects nostalgia:
"Oh, for the halcyon days of our childhood when
there was time for playing family games,
reading good books, enjoying dinner conversation; we
knew each other; we shared our joys and
disappointments--no boob tube then," the mother
reminisced.
SENTIMENTAL TONE. Identifies that which is affectedly
or extravagantly emotional instead of rational; it may also reveal romantic
feelings. A good example is the paragraph which follows:
Jim and Mary Smith had looked forward to the trip for
months. They were returning to a city
they had fallen in love with during the five years it
was their home over a decade ago. So many
memories were rooted in those years when they lived
near Washington D.C. They had bought
their first house while they lived in a nearby suburb.
Their two sons had begun school during
those years, and Jim and Mary had established many
close friendships. Above all, they had
become caught up in the excitement of living in the
nation's capital, with its continual political
intrigue and constant awareness of international
affairs. Indeed, they were more than eager to
return, see friends, and visit the beautiful city they
loved.
MORALIZING TONE. Attempts to explain or interpret
good or bad features of something. It is
explicitly and clearly trying to reform. There is no
subtlety involved. An example of moralizing is the
following statement:
"Well, if you want to live like a yuppie, you
better study hard and complete your education.
That piece of parchment is the bottom rung of the
yuppie ladder!"
CYNICAL TONE. Reveals a sense of
helplessness and hopelessness toward life--a feeling that
nothing really can be changed, that evil will prevail,
that man is basically selfish, incapable of being
reformed. As an example of cynicism, consider the
following statement made by a person of voting age.
"Don't talk to me about voting or politics. I'm
not interested. All politicians are self-serving
and corrupt. My vote won't change a thing."
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