Tone is the overall mood of the story. In understanding the TONE of the story, we understand the author’s intent. It helps us to understand the central idea, too.

TONE Questions to help you identify tone in story: What is the mood of the story? You might start with a major division such as "happy" or "sad" (comic/tragic is a classical division), optimistic or pessimistic. Pick a specific adjective from the list below to describe tone. Which elements contribute to the overall tone of the story? For example, the characters might be exaggerated and thus comic. The setting might be dark and dreary and thus melancholoy.

Tone must imply tragic/pessimistic or comic/optimistic . You can say that there is an overall tone with undertones, shadings or overtones of another tone.

Here are some commonly used terms for TONE: fatalistic,nostalgic,existential,macabre,wistful,melancholy,hackneyed,moralistic,debauched,hedonistic,alienated ,chauvinistic,humorous,ironic,satirical,bitter,biting,critical,sympathetic

Tone, of course, may be described in as many ways as there are human moods. Here is a partial list of words that might describe tone in particular passages:

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admiring, worshiping, approving strident, subdued, harsh disliking, abhorring simple, straightforward, direct, unambiguous complicated, complex, difficult forceful, powerful ironic, sardonic, sarcastic

indirect, understated, evasive bitter, grim sympathetic, interested indifferent, unconcerned, apathetic antagonistic, hostile violent, outraged, indignant, angry elevated, grand, lofty

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