Tone vs Mood

MOOD is...

• the overall feeling or atmosphere created by a work of literature; heavily influence by the setting; reader-centered

• the attitude a writer takes towards the subject or the reader; writer-centered

TONE is...

• the overall feeling or atmosphere created by a work of literature; heavily influence by the setting; reader-centered

• the attitude a writer takes towards the subject or the reader; writer-centered

Identify the TONE of the following passage: The conditions were just awful for an outdoor party. The guests stood in mud where there had once been a layer of fluffy white snow. Cold winds blew in from the lake, chilling the hot food and adding a layer of frost to the cold drinks. Many guests were sneezing and sniffling as they struggled to eat wearing gloves and scarves.

• Outraged

• Paranoid

• Miserable

Answer explanation

Remember, tone is about the AUTHOR. Think about the attitude the writer has towards the subject in order to determine the tone.

Identify the TONE of the following passage:

As soon as we walked in the door, we felt at home. The hostess rushed to the door to greet us and quickly introduced us to several other people who were open and welcoming. By the end of the day we’d made plans to play golf with one couple and to visit another couple later in the week for another party. What a great neighborhood this is!

• Peaceful

• Friendly

• Remorseful

Why is it important to distinguish between mood and tone in a text?

• To understand the author's purpose

• To predict the ending of the story

• To improve vocabulary skills

• To identify the main characters

What is the primary difference between tone and mood?

• Tone is about the setting, and mood is about the theme.

• Tone is the author's attitude, and mood is the atmosphere for the reader.

• Tone and mood are the same thing.

• Mood describes characters, and tone describes the plot.

Which of the following is a true statement about mood and tone?

• Mood and tone are not at all alike, and are therefore never related.

• Because they are so similar, a story's mood and tone are always the same.

• A story's tone is always established by its mood.

• Even though they sound similar, a story's mood can be very different than its tone.

What is the difference between tone and mood?

• Tone refers to the author's attitude, while mood refers to the reader's emotional response.

• Tone refers to the reader's emotional response, while mood refers to the author's attitude.

• Tone and mood are the same thing.

• Tone and mood are unrelated.

What is the primary difference between mood and tone?

• Mood is the feeling the reader gets, while tone is the author's attitude.

• Mood is the author's attitude, while tone is the feeling the reader gets.

• Mood and tone both refer to the author's attitude.

• Mood and tone both refer to the reader's feelings.

Which of the following is NOT a way to infer the mood of a passage?

• Examining the setting

• Analyzing the character's actions

• Identifying the conflict

• Counting the number of sentences