TONE

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TONE

• What it is and how to recognise it

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Tone indicates the writers attitude. Often an
author's tone is described by adjectives, such
as cynical, depressed, sympathetic, cheerful,
outraged, positive, angry, sarcastic, prayerful,
ironic, solemn, vindictive, intense, excited.
What is an authors tone?
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• Tone is not an action. It is an attitude.

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What is tone?

• The writers or speakers attitude toward the
  subject the audience.
• With speaking, tone is easy to hear in a persons
  voice.
• With writing, tone is determined by DIDLS

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Diction

• Connotation of word choice
• Example
• The girls in the corner laughed.
• (snickered, cackled, chuckled, giggled, cracked
  up, etc.)

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Imagery

• Vivid details that appeal to senses
• Example
• With an agonized gasp, the soldier collapsed on
  the battle field.
• Mrs. Bitz beamed at her kindergartners with a
  soothing smile and sparkling eyes.

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Details

• The details the author does/does not choose to
  include
• Example
• How would the details of a fight at you witnessed
  at school vary as told to another student, the
  principal, or your parents?

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Language

• The overall style of the language
• Slang He laid him out cold.
• Informal He socked him in the jaw.
• Formal In a sudden rage, he thrust his fist
  into his opponents face.

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Sentence Structure

• Long sentences show significance, seriousness, or
  politeness
• I would like you to try to finish this assignment
  today or you will be invited to meet the
  headmaster.

Short sentences show urgency or a casual attitude
We need it now! Yeah, whatever you say.
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Real-life Example

• You can say the same phrase in different ways,
  each showing a different attitude or tone.

• Try saying, Come here, Sally using the
  following tones
• Commanding or bossy
• Secretive
• Loving
• Angry
• Excited
• Playful

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• Tone is not explained or expressed directly.

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• A reader mustread between the linesto feel
  the authors attitude and identify the tone.

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• Tone is different than Mood.

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• Tone is the authors own attitude toward the
  subject.

Mood is the emotion the author wants the readers
to feel while reading about the subject.
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Tone vs Mood
Tone AUTHOR Authors ATTITUDE to the subject

• Mood ME
• My feelings when reading it

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• An authors tone influences the storys mood and
  atmosphere.

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• Authors Tone

leads to
Storys Atmosphere Mood
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Example

• An author writes a horror story using a serious
  and sinister tone.

That tone helps create a scary atmosphere and a
nervous, frightened mood for the readers.
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Another Example

• An author writes a satire, making fun of a
  horror story using a playful or sarcastic tone.

That playful tone helps create a humorous mood
for the readers.
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 I hate the way you talk to meAnd the way you
cut your hairI hate the way you drive my carI
hate it when you stare I hate your big dumb
combat bootsAnd the way you read my mindI hate
you so much that it makes me sickIt even makes
me rhymeI hate the way you're always rightI
hate it when you lieI hate it when you make me
laughEven worse when you make me cry I hate
the way you're not aroundAnd the fact that you
didn't callBut mostly I hate the way I don't
hate youNot even close, not even a little bit,
not even at all.  
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• Literary Examplesof Authors Tones

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Serious / Solemn

• The girl remembered little from the raid at
  Okeadan in which she had been captured. She
  knew her parents had been killed. She had no idea
  what had happened to her brothers and sisters.
  Much of what she had experienced had been so
  horrible that she had simply shut it out of her
  mind. . . .
• At Her Majestys Request p. 17

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Serious / Solemn

• The girl remembered little from the raid at
  Okeadan in which she had been captured. She knew
  her parents had been killed. She had no idea what
  had happened to her brothers and sisters. Much
  of what she had experienced had been so horrible
  that she had simply shut it out of her mind. . .
  .
• At Her Majestys Request p. 17

This authors serious tone inspires an atmosphere
of tragedy. This leads to a mood of sadness,
sympathy, and caring in the reader when reading
this passage.
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Humorous

• When he realized he was still in one piece, he
  knew that at the very least he must be completely
  flat, with his face peering out of his own
  bottom and his brains leaking out of his ears. .
  . .
• Toad Heaven p. 64

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Humorous
This authors humorous tone inspires a comic
atmosphere. This leads to a playful mood in the
reader. (It also helps the reader identify with
and care about the characters.)

• When he realized he was still in one piece, he
  knew that at the very least he must be completely
  flat, with his face peering out of his own
  bottom and his brains leaking out of his ears. .
  . .
• Toad Heaven p. 64

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Objective / Impersonal

• By nightfall on Monday, the center of the
  storm had barely moved, and icy winds of
  hurricane force swept across an area from
  Virginia up to Nova Scotia, Canada. The wind was
  so powerful that in Liberty, New York, the local
  train station had its roof entirely ripped off
  
• Blizzard p . 56

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Objective / Impersonal

• By nightfall on Monday, the center of the
  storm had barely moved, and icy winds of
  hurricane force swept across an area from
  Virginia up to Nova Scotia, Canada. The wind was
  so powerful that in Liberty, New York, the local
  train station had its roof entirely ripped off
  
• Blizzard p . 56

This authors impersonal tone inspires a
serious atmosphere, typical of nonfiction (such
as news reports). The mood for this piece might
be considered studious or academic.
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Enthusiastic

• . . . the next minute, Winn-Dixie looked
  like a furry bullet, shooting across the
  building, chasing that mouse. He was barking and
  his feet were skidding all over the polished
  Pick-It-Quick floor, and people were clapping and
  hollering and pointing. They really went wild
  when Winn-Dixie actually caught the mouse.
• Because of Winn-Dixie p. 36

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Enthusiastic

• . . . the next minute, Winn-Dixie looked
  like a furry bullet, shooting across the
  building, chasing that mouse. He was barking and
  his feet were skidding all over the polished
  Pick-It-Quick floor, and people were clapping and
  hollering and pointing. They really went wild
  when Winn-Dixie actually caught the mouse.
• Because of Winn-Dixie p. 36

This authors enthusiastic tone inspires an
active, lively atmosphere. The author hopes to
influence the readers to be in an excited mood,
anticipating more action.
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Hostile / Angry

• Dana grinned malevolently. His teeth were nubby
  and yellow, like an old barn dogs. Kneeling on
  Roys chest, he hauled back to hit him again.
• Hoot p. 184

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Hostile / Angry
This authors angry tone inspires a
violent atmosphere. The author may be hoping
to inspire a tense and uneasy mood in the reader,
emphasizing the conflicts in the story.

• Dana grinned malevolently. His teeth were nubby
  and yellow, like an old barn dogs. Kneeling on
  Roys chest, he hauled back to hit him again.
• Hoot p. 184

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Disapproving

• Wed gone a quarter mile down the trail when we
  ran into a man walking the wrong way. He had a
  pack on his back a full, towering, overstuffed
  pack and he was sweating hard. His breath
  sounded like a bellows. I stepped aside to let
  him pass. I stared. I knew that he was one of
  the ones who hadnt made it, whod quit right
  there at the start.
• Halfway to the Sky p. 32

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Disapproving

• Wed gone a quarter mile down the trail when we
  ran into a man walking the wrong way. He had a
  pack on his back a full, towering, overstuffed
  pack and he was sweating hard. His breath
  sounded like a bellows. I stepped aside to let
  him pass. I stared. I knew that he was one of
  the ones who hadnt made it, whod quit right
  there at the start.
• Halfway to the Sky p. 32

This authors disapproving tone sets up
a competitive atmosphere, leading to a judgmental
mood in the reader. It also helps the reader
appreciate the accomplishments of the characters.
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PERSONAL
Personal

• I feel alive for the first time in years,
  said Faber. I feel Im doing what I shouldve
  done a lifetime ago. For a little while Im not
  afraid. Maybe its because Im doing the right
  thing at last.. . . .
• Fahrenheit 451 p. 131

I feel alive for the first time in years, said
Faber. I feel Im doing what I shouldve done
a lifetime ago. For a little while Im not
afraid. Maybe its because Im doing the right
thing at last . . . Fahrenheit
451 p. 131
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PERSONAL
Personal

• I feel alive for the first time in years,
  said Faber. I feel Im doing what I shouldve
  done a lifetime ago. For a little while Im not
  afraid. Maybe its because Im doing the right
  thing at last.. . . .
• Fahrenheit 451 p. 131

This authors personal tone leads to an
atmosphere of emotional expression and
revelation. The author hopes to set a mood of
confidentiality and sharing in the readers,
helping them to understand and care about the
characters.
I feel alive for the first time in years, said
Faber. I feel Im doing what I shouldve done
a lifetime ago. For a little while Im not
afraid. Maybe its because Im doing the right
thing at last . . . Fahrenheit
451 p. 131
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• Corny
• It sounds clichédBut at times like this,I miss
  my dad.I mean,I dont remember him he died of
  cancer when I was three.Picturesare all thats
  left.My favorite one is us sitting on a bench,
  eating ice cream.Our knees are knobby the same
  way,were both grinning like hyenas,hes
  pointing at the camera.
• I havent had a dad in twelve years.Most of the
  time,thats okay.But today,right now, Id
  like a hug.From him.
  Shark Girl, Kelly Bingham

Grieving
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• Corny
• It sounds clichédBut at times like this,I miss
  my dad.I mean,
• I dont remember him he died of cancer when I
  was three.Picturesare all thats left.My
  favorite one is us sitting on a bench, eating
  ice cream.Our knees are knobby the same
  way,were both grinning like hyenas,hes
  pointing at the camera.
• I havent had a dad in twelve years.Most of the
  time,thats okay.But today,right now,Id like
  a hug.From him.
  Shark Girl, Kelly Bingham

Grieving
Poets often bare their souls in their
poems. This poets grieving tone reveals her
deepest feelings about her father, creating an
atmosphere of sadness and longing. This inspires
a mood of sympathy and caring in the readers.
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Indifferent

• Flicker
• A maid cleans.A crew cuts the lawn.Even the
  groceries get delivered.Jordans dad is home,
  for once,but he barely lifts his headfrom his
  laptop to meet me.His eyesflicker in
  surprise,but he slamshis attention back to the
  screenand coughs to dismiss us.
• Reaching for Sun, Tracie Vaughn Zimmer

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Indifferent

• Flicker
• A maid cleans.
• A crew cuts the lawn.
• Even the groceries get delivered.
• Jordans dad is home, for once,
• but he barely lifts his head
• from his laptop to meet me.
• His eyes
• flicker in surprise,
• but he slams
• his attention back to the screen
• and coughs to dismiss us.
• Reaching for Sun, Tracie Vaughn Zimmer

This poets indifferent tone creates an
impersonal, possibly uncaring atmosphere. This
causes an emotionally empty mood in the reader.
It allows the reader to understand why the
speaker in the poem may be depressed.
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Examples of Tone

• Cautious
• Humorous
• Affectionate
• Hostile
• Critical
• Objective
• Personal
• Violent

• Solemn / Serious
• Sarcastic
• Disapproving
• Enthusiastic
• Desperate
• Pleading
• Indifferent

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More Tone Words

• animated ambivalent apathetic accusatory amused
  absurd   aggressive acerbic angry   abstruse  
  assertive aggrieved arrogant   awestruck  
  admiring assertive ardent acerbic befuddled 
  benevolent bitter belligerent compliant
  cautionary condescending  callous
  cynical colloquial comic  confused compassionate 
  complaining chatty   complex cheerful  
  contemptuous caustic cruel  celebratory candid
  conciliatory detached depressed docile  evasive
  docile derisive   dignified disparaging
  distressed  disheartened diplomatic defiant
  dispassionate demeaning    excited   empathetic
  egotistical earnest farcical frustrated forceful 
  formal  frank fawning flippant faultfinding
  frivolous fuming ghoulish grim gullible gentle
  hard   hard-hearted hypercritical humble intense
  incensed imploring indignant  intimate
  impressionable sulking inane irreverent  
  impassioned informative incredulous indifferent
  impartial  ironic jaded joyous laudatory    
  loving    malicious  mocking modest macabre
  mourning mean-spirited naive nasty narcissistic
  nostalgic outraged  obsequious  optimistic
  outspoken placating pompous pragmatic pretentious
  prayerful  playful   pathetic  pessimistic
  pensive patronizing philosophical persuasive
  reflective resentful reverent  resigned regretful
  righteous reticent   reflective restrained
  sentimental satirical  sympathetic skeptical
  scornful scathing subjective  self-pitying
  sensationalistic submissive scorning subjective
  sorrowful tragic  thoughtful tolerant unassuming
  unbiased uneasy virtuous vindictive witty
  world-weary wretched wonder worried whimsical

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Vocabulary

• Learn a few tone words every week soon you will
  have a lots more words to choose from.
• Of course, you can describe the tone without
  necessarily having a name to label it with but
  it does help
• Think about TONE with everything you read (and
  write)- every piece of writing has one!

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See what you make of these.
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Example 1

• As discussed in our meeting today, each staff
  member should plan to attend a special training
  on the appropriate way to remove snacks from the
  vending machines. Please be prompt.

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Example 2

• C.J., you are so fine. You know I gotta get wit
  yo fine self sometime and get to know you betta.
  You is on my mind 24/7.

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Example 3

• My grandmother was not one of those soft, warm
  grandmothers that made cookies and read bedtime
  stories. But she knew the best places to fish,
  taught me everything I know about poker, and
  played a mean saxophone.

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Not so hard
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The next time you read a passage, try to identify
the authors tone.

• It will help you get the message of the text.

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Works Cited
Bingham, Kelly. Shark Girl. Boston Candlewick,
2010. Print. Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New
York, NY Simon Schuster, 1967. Print. Bradley,
Kimberly Brubaker. Halfway to the Sky. New York
Yearling Press, 2003. Print. Dicamillo, Kate.
Because of Winn-Dixie. New York Candlewick
Press, 2000. Print. Gleitzman, Morris. Toad
Heaven. New York Yearling Press, 2006.
Print. Hiaasen, Carl. Hoot. New York Yearling
Press, 2006. Print. Lehmann, L. R. Blizzard. Salt
Lake City, Utah Quikread Press, 1997.
Print. Myers, Walter Dean. At Her Majesty's
Request An African Princess in Victorian
England. New York Scholastic Press, 1999.
Print Zimmer, Tracie Vaughn. Reaching for Sun.
New York Bloomsbury Children's, Distributed to
the trade by Holtzbrinck, 2007. Print.
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