Tone

Understanding Tone

  • Tone refers to the writer’s attitude or feelings towards the subject matter and audience.
  • It is conveyed through choice of words and viewpoint. Understanding the tone helps in interpreting the author’s message.

Identifying the Tone

  • Tone can be expressed in a variety of ways such as through diction (choice of words), syntax (sentence structure), imagery and other narrative elements.
  • Look for details that suggest the writer’s attitude. This could range from sarcastic, serious, humoured, formal, informal, critical, optimistic, pessimistic, or any other tone.
  • Be aware that a single piece of writing can have multiple tones.

Analysing the Tone

  • Once you have identified the tone, consider how it contributes to the meaning, mood, and overall effect of the piece.
  • Draw conclusions about the author’s purpose for using a specific tone. For instance, a serious tone in an informative article may help to present the facts clearly and lend credibility to the information.
  • Reflect on how the tone changes over the course of a text - this can reveal a shift in perspective or a change in the author’s attitude.

Influence of Tone

  • Tone greatly influences how readers interpret the writer’s message. The tone sets the mood or atmosphere of the piece.
  • Consideration of tone can help to justify textual evidence when making an argument about a text.
  • Note how the tone correlates with the themes, characters, setting and plot within a piece of writing.

Examples of Tone

  • A satirical tone employs humour, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to criticize people’s stupidity or vices, often in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.
  • An objective tone provides factual information without displaying any emotion or personal beliefs.
  • A colloquial tone uses familiar, everyday language. This tone may be used to create a sense of realism or informality.
  • An elevated tone uses more formal or scholarly language. This could serve to create an air of authority or sophistication.

Remember, it is the job of a skilled reader to identify, interpret, and scrutinize the tone of a text. If you can master the tricky skill of perceiving the tone in a piece of writing, your ability to analyse language and structure will significantly improve.