What Is Tone

What is the "tone" of a story?

• The feeling the passage evokes from the reader
• The author, narrator, or speaker's attitude toward a subject
• The time and place of the story
• The summary of events in the story

"We have some important news for you Mr. President.  We have discovered a terrorist plot against the United States" said the CIA agent.  The President closed the book, set it on the desk, and leaned forward, his eyes fixed straight ahead.  "Tell me everything you know." 
What is the tone of the dialogue?

• Informal
• Happy
• Serious
• Optimistic

What is the tone of the following text?
"I will not!" she shouted.  "I will not be left at the mercy of our enemies while you run away and hide, you coward!" 

• pleased
• suspicious 
• happy
• angry

Just when I thought things could  not get more ridiculous, Rebecca's little terrier, all dressed up in its knitted blue winter outfit, poked its head out of the pink polka dot doggy tote!  The outfit was an odd sweater-and-hood combination.  Perhaps Rebecca thought it flattered Fluffy's eyes.  Fluffy looked around blankly, as if to ask what was so amusing.
What word would you use to describe the tone of this passage?

• Bitter
• Respectful 
• Objective
• Humorous 

No sooner had she said it than there he was, "Mister Irresistible" himself.  Throwing big, cheesy winks at everyone in the room, walking with a swagger like a cartoon baseball player.  He slithered his way over to their side of the room.
What word would you use to describe the tone of this passage?

• Enthusiastic 
• Serious
• Mocking
• Sorrowful 

Lana was bursting with excitement.  She paced up and down, and every few minutes headed to the window to check for the mail carrier.  When he finally showed up, she ran down the path and stretched out her hand for the mail.  She took a deep breath and, hands shaking, ripped open the envelope.  
What word would you use to describe the tone of this passage?

• humorous 
• persuasive 
• anxious 
• cheerful 

Perhaps because bats are nocturnal in habit, a wealth of thoroughly unreliable legend has grown up about them, and men have made of the harmless, even beneficial little beasts a means of expressing their unreasoned fears.  Bats were the standard paraphernalia for witches, the females half of humanity stood in terror that bats would become entangled in their hair.  Phrases crept into the language expressing man’s revulsion or ignorance—“Bat’s in the Belfry,” “Batty,” “Blind as a Bat.”

• creepy
• scary
• informational
• exciting

"Listen to what she says with an open heart and a critical mind. Love her even if she doesn't do what you hope..."

• tragic
• cheerful
• desperate
• sympathetic

One way you could figure out the theme is to...

• Skim through the story
• Just read the beginning of the story
• Think about what the character has learned
• Read the ending of the story

Which of the following is an example of THEME?

• Carry your laptops with two hands at all times.
• Cereal is the healthiest food you can eat.
• How much wood a woodchuck could chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood.
• Life is short; make the most of it.