Story Tone

How do words like reassuring, persevere, & overcome affect the tone of a story?

• Creates a fun and lighthearted tone

• Creates a courageous and inspirational tone

• Creates a formal and no nonsense tone

• Creates a depressing and gloomy tone

How do words like respectful, factual, & direct affect the tone of a story?

• Creates a fun and lighthearted tone

• Creates a courageous and inspirational tone

• Creates a formal and no nonsense tone

• Creates a depressing and gloomy tone

What is the tone of the passage below?

Each year in the middle of February, when slush is underfoot and the sky is a depressing gray, I begin dreaming of warm beaches, tropical fruits and sunsets. If only I could save enough for a winter vacation! Maybe next year I’ll win the lottery. Meanwhile, I’ll read travel brochures and sigh.

• Unsure

• Joyous

• Longing

What is mood?

• How the author feels about the topic/subject of the story

• How the reader feels based off of the author's tone

What is tone?

• How the author feels about the topic/subject of the story

• How the reader feels based off of the author's tone

Which words and phrases best show the sentimental tone in the passage below?

• "warmth," "comforting hug" and "home"

• "car," "tomato soup" and "door"

• "old," "halting" and "out the window"

• "driveway," "screen door" and "slowly stirred"

Which passage below has the most whimsical tone?

• The creature moved its sharp claws over the strange device, and the noise was loud and distracting.

• The lovely fairy danced her long fingers over the harp, and the music carried us gently into a trance.

• The creature played the instrument, and we listened to the music it made.

• The monster produced a terrifying noise, and we tried hard not to scream and give away our hiding place.

Which passage below has the most critical tone?

• On the train, the man slowly clipped his fingernails. He focused on the task, beginning with his pinky finger and finishing with his thumb.

• On the train, the tired, old man began clipping his fingernails. He was trying to distract himself from his loneliness by focusing on this one small task, moving from pinky to thumb.

• The man—right in the middle of the crowded train—began to clip his long, yellow fingernails. He did it slowly, as if he didn't even care that a dozen other people could see and hear him.

• The man on the train clipped his fingernails. It took him 2 minutes and 8 seconds. He started on his pinky and finished with his thumb. When he was finished, he put the clippers back into his jacket pocket.

Which word best describes the tone of the sentence below? The stunning poem that opens this lovely collection is rich with imagery and language.

• admiring

• bitter

• sad

• hopeful

Which word best describes the tone of the passage below? I never wanted to see that movie, but my annoying little sister kept pestering me. Eventually, her whining wore me down, and I gave in. But that waste of a movie really destroyed my Saturday.

• admiring

• bitter

• sad

• hopeful