Understanding Tone in Literature

A. Tone

1) What Does Tone Mean in Literature?

In literary terms, tone typically refers to the mood implied by an author’s word
choice and the way that the text can make a reader feel. The tone an author uses in a
piece of writing can evoke any number of emotions and perspectives. It also can be said
that, tone is the author’s attitude toward the topic. The author’s attitude is expressed
through the words and details he or she selects.
The tone used in writing refers to the feeling the words invoke in the reader. A
written piece might have a positive or uplifting tone, or the tone might feel sad or tense.
When you write, your mood at that time might have an impact on the overall tone of
your piece.
For example, textbooks are usually written with an objective tone which includes
facts and reasonable explanations. The objective tone is matter-of-fact and neutral. The
details are mostly facts. On the other hand, fiction and personal essays are usually
written with a subjective tone. A subjective tone uses words that describe feelings,
judgments, or opinions. The details are likely to include experiences, senses, feelings,
and thoughts.

2) Determining the Tone in a Literary Work

There are several ways that we can use to determine the tone in literature. They
are as follow:
a) Notice the word choice and language.
One way you can determine tone in a literary work is to pay attention to the words and
language used by the author. Consider why the author chose certain words or language
to describe a scene. Think about why certain words were used to discuss a character.
Think about how these choices create tone.
Example:
  In the passage, Barthelme creates a solemn, gloomy tone by using words like
“depressing,” “dead,” “died,” and “wrong.”

b) Look at the sentence structure

Read a few lines of the literary work and notice how the sentences are
structured. You may notice the sentences are short and often do not vary in length,
creating a certain tone. Or you may notice sentences that are long and winding down
the page. This could create a meditative or thoughtful tone.
For example, in many thriller novels, the sentences are often short and to the
point, with very few adjectives or adverbs. This can help to create a suspenseful tone,
full of action and tension. The other example can be seen as follow:
c) Examine the imagery
Another way you can determine the tone of a piece is to look at the imagery
used by the author to describe a setting, scene, or character. Certain imagery will create
a certain tone to the piece. Strong imagery can tip you off to the tone intended by the
author

 For example, if a person's face is described as “glowing with happiness and

excitement,” this may create a joyful tone. Or if a cabin in the woods is
described as “grimy with the fingerprints of the previous occupants,” this may
create a suspenseful tone.

d) Read the work out loud

Reading a work of literature out loud can help you get a better sense of the
diction of the piece. Diction refers to how words sound next to one another in a
sentence. It is often clearer when a work is read out loud, as you can hear how each
word sounds and pay attention to how this creates a certain tone to the piece.

 For example, you may read the following lines from The Catcher in the Rye out
loud to determine the tone: “God damn money. It always ends up making you
blue as hell.” The use of “god damn” and “blue as hell” gives the line a sarcastic
or bitter tone, with a hint of humor and sadness.

e) Note that a work can have more than one tone

It is common for an author to use more than one tone in a work of literature,
especially a long work like a novel. You may notice that the tone shifts in the work from
 chapter to chapter, narrator to narrator, or scene to scene. The author may do this to
get into the particular voice of a character or to signal a shift in the characters or the
action in the piece.

 For example, a novel may begin with a humorous tone and shift into a more
serious tone as the author delves deeper into a character's history or personal
relationships.

3. Different types of tones

There are many types of tones, making possibilities endless as you craft your
personal voice in your writing. Below are the most common tones usually found in
literature

1) Formal
A formal writing tone is common in academic or professional contexts. This tone
focuses on being thorough and direct, yet respectful. It uses full words, rather than
contractions, and emphasizes facts and grammatical correctness.
Examples:
“The committee will not vote on the matter”
“According to the data. . .”
“To Whom It May Concern”
“Respectfully yours”

2) Informal
An informal tone is the opposite of a formal tone. Informal tone in writing is
conversational and expressive, similar to how you’d speak to a friend. It uses
contractions, colloquial phrases, and more emotion. Its sentence structure can be
shorter with a choppy rhythm, or it can be long and chatty.

Examples:
“Nah—I’ve got tons of time to do my chores”
“Hey, what’s up?”
“. . . Sandra laughed as she jokingly shoved her friend’s shoulder”
3) Optimistic
When writing in an optimistic tone, you’re conveying a sense of hope, and a
positive outlook for the future. Even when acknowledging today’s challenges, the
uplifting language gives readers aspiration.

Examples: 
 “. . . David said with a reassuring smile”
 “hopeful”
 “hang in there”

4) Worried
A worried tone can make your reader apprehensive and afraid. It communicates
feelings of anxiousness about something that’s unknown.

Examples: 

 “My hand tentatively reached for the knob, shaking as I held my breath. . .”,

 “rocked back and forth, looking out of the window every second. . .”
 “stressed”

5) Friendly
A friendly tone is non-threatening and elicits trust. This tone can also have a mix
of formal or informal tones, depending on what you’re writing. Generally, it’s
lighthearted and kind. Exclamation points can convey warmth and enthusiasm.

Examples: 

 “Esther gave me a cheerful thumbs up from behind the curtain”

 “What a sweet puppy!”
 “Happy birthday, buddy!” 

6) Encouraging
An encouraging tone is supportive and understanding. It gives readers
reassurance to overcome their fears and take action.
 Examples: 

 “I remembered mom’s advice to take a deep breath and jump in. . .”

 “Embolden”

 “You’ve got this!”

Reference

https://www.centergrove.k12.in.us/cms/lib/IN01000850/Centricity/Domain/490/Tone-and-
Purpose.pdf
https://writers.com/what-is-tone-in-literature
https://www.wikihow.com/Analyze-Tone-in-Literature
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/examples-of-tone-words-in-writing
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/examples-of-tone
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/tone-and-emotions/
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/types-of-tone/