MOOD DEFINITION

The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere; in short, the feelings
the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing can
influence its mood, from the setting and the imagery to the author's word
choice and tone. For instance, a story that begins "It was a dark and stormy
night" will probably have an overall dark, ominous, or suspenseful mood.
What Makes Up a Mood?
These are the basic elements that help determine the mood of a piece of
writing:
Setting: A story's setting is where and when it takes place. Setting is one of the
first things to be described in a narrative, and therefore plays a major role in
establishing the mood.
In the "dark and stormy night", the story's mood is established almost entirely
by the setting (in this case, the weather and the time of day), which makes for
a gloomy and potentially even frightening atmosphere.
A story that takes place in a cotton candy kingdom, by contrast, is likely to have
a whimsical, cheerful, or light-hearted mood.
Imagery: Imagery is similar to setting in the sense that it helps to establish
mood using descriptions of physical things in the world of the story. Not every
image helps in identifying the story's mood, but images that are repeated or
described in detail usually do reflect the mood.
A poem that spends a lot of time describing babbling brooks, gentle rolling
hills, and herds of sheep might have an idyllic mood.
A story that has a lot of roses, candlelight, and boxes of chocolates might be
trying to establish a romantic mood.
Tone: Tone (or the attitude of piece of writing) is closely related to mood:
often, the tone and mood of a piece are similar or the same.
It wouldn't be unusual for a poem with a sombre (depressing, gloomy) tone to
also have a sombre mood—i.e., to make the reader feel sombre as well.
A journalist who writes about a politician might be conveying how they feel
about their subject (using a critical tone) while also trying to influence their
readers to feel similarly—i.e., creating a mood of anger or outrage.
Diction: The words that a writer chooses to use (i.e., diction) play a huge part
in determining the mood of a piece.
Similarly, the difference between "a dull, uneventful night" and "a peaceful,
silent night" might contribute to the difference between a text with a gloomy
or melancholic mood and a calm, reflective mood.
Mood Explained
Generally speaking, any word that can be used to describe emotion can be
used to describe the mood of a story, poem, or other piece of writing.

Examples of Mood Words:

 I am hopeful that she will come tomorrow.

 He couldn’t get to sleep because he was too excited.
 Small children are often very trustful.
 He had three pretty, vivacious daughters.
Here are some words that are commonly used to describe mood:
1. Cheerful
2. Reflective
3. Gloomy
4. Humorous
5. Melancholy
6. Idyllic
7. Whimsical
8. Romantic
9. Mysterious
10.Ominous
11.Calm
12.Light-hearted
13.Hopeful
14.Angry
15.Fearful
16.Tense
17.Lonely
 WORKSHEET ON MOOD.
Analysis the words and write down what mood the passages are creating.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

“Do you know, I always thought unicorns were fabulous monsters, too? I never
saw one alive before!”
“Well, now that we have seen each other,” said the unicorn, “if you’ll believe in
me, I’ll believe in you.”
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 Charles Dickens' Pickwick Papers:
"The river, reflecting the clear blue of the sky, glistened and sparkled as it
flowed noiselessly on."
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Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven":
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow;—vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore—
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore—
Nameless here for evermore.
And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me—filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
“’Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door—
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;—
This it is and nothing more.”

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The Haunting of Hill House (1959) by Shirley Jackson
This is an excerpt from the opening lines of the Gothic horror novel :
Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it
had stood so for eighty years and might stand for eighty more. Within, walls
continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly
shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and
whatever walked there, walked alone.
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TONE:
The TONE is the feeling or the atmosphere that the author has set in his story, while the MOOD is
the feeling or the atmosphere that the reader gets when he is reading the story.
The tone depends on what the author himself feels towards the setting or the character, and what
he wants us to feel. For example, when the author writes, “James didn’t want to go into that dark
room and preferred to stay where he was”, he means that James was very scared. Or, the
sentence “The sun was shining so bright that Margaret wanted to run around the garden singing
all day long” suggests that Margaret was feeling excited or happy.

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.

You might also use your feelings about the story or situation you are presenting in the written
communication to reflect the tone. Additional factors that impact the tone of a piece include
the verb and adjectives you use and how you utilize imagery to tell the story.

Tone also refers to the complexity of the writing, along with the formality of the words used. A more
formal piece might reflect a more serious topic, while a light-hearted story might use fewer formal
words and diction. In literature, tone refers to how the author expresses their attitude throughout
their writing.

Tone might stay the same throughout a piece, or it might change to reflect a shift in the story or
mood. An author might also use different tones in various pieces they write.

Examples of tone in writing

As you review the meaning of tone in writing, you can also look at various examples of tone to get a
better sense of what each might look like in your own writing.

1. Formal

A formal tone is common in a professional or academic context, when the piece needs to be direct
and thorough while maintaining a respectful feel. Formal pieces often include full words with no
contractions or other shortened words and does not include slang terms. It is grammatically correct
and emphasizes facts rather than opinions.

Example: “According to the data presented, the yellow tree frog mates between April and June.”

2. Informal

Informal is the opposite tone of formal and sounds more conversational. Some people write in the
same way they speak to a friend, and this is known as an informal tone of writing. Pieces written in
an informal tone may include colloquial or slang phrases and shortened words, such as contractions.
The author of an informal piece may also convey more emotion and personal opinions in the piece.

Example: “Hey, what's up? I'm calling to see if you want to catch a flick tonight with me and my
buddies?”

3. Pessimistic

A pessimistic tone reflects a negative view of a situation or the belief that a situation will not get
better. Pessimism is not realism, but an author may use this tone when they feel negative while
writing or when they want to reflect a point of view that sees things negatively.

Example: “I got diagnosed with cancer and my dog died. I just don't believe that anything will get
better anytime soon.”

4. Optimistic

Optimistic is the opposing tone to pessimistic, seeing the world in a positive light. An optimistic tone
conveys the belief that things will get better, even during challenging situations.

Example: “Despite the civil unrest happening in my city, I believe I can make things better and see
real change in my lifetime.”

5. Tense

A tense tone helps to keep the reader feeling unsure of what will happen next. An author might use
a tense tone when writing a mystery or thriller and they want to convey feelings of worry and
concern. In most stories, a tense tone will lead to a resolution and the tone will change. Another
term for a tense tone is worried, which can make the reader feel anxious or apprehensive about
what is to come.

Example: “She frantically searched the room for the killer, who she knew was hidden somewhere
in the darkness. Moving blindly through the space, she wondered whether she would find him and
stop him before it was too late and he moved on to his next victim.”

6. Curious

A curious tone reflects that the author or character wants to learn more about a particular topic or
situation or that the reader will continue to uncover important details. Someone might write with a
curious tone if they are trying to uncover new information or describe a young child who is learning
more about the world around them. Using this tone can keep a reader intrigued as they continue to
read the piece.

Example: “He continued to ask questions as we drove to school, wondering about the color of the
sky, why the birds were flying in a V-shaped pattern and whether I would be there to pick him up
after his nap.”

7. Uplifting

An uplifting tone seeks to convey a supportive and motivating feeling, providing reassurance to the
reader that they can overcome challenging situations or take new steps in their journey. Using an
uplifting tone is common among self-help authors and motivational speakers.

Example: “Jason knew that the first day being back at school in his new wheelchair would be
difficult, but he remembered his mother's advice to go through the day with a smile on his face.
He wheeled himself into school, only to find that his friends and fellow students were happy to
give his chair a push and sit with him, offering friendly and encouraging words.”

8. Aggressive

An aggressive tone might convey feelings of frustration or anger. When writing aggressively, an
author may seek to prove their point in a harsh or unfriendly way.

Example: “The answer is no, and I don't want to hear another word about it for as long as we both
live.”

9. Assertive

Some people assume that an assertive tone is the same as an aggressive tone, but they do differ. An
assertive tone conveys

authority and confidence, while an aggressive tone comes across as more angry or harsh. When
writing assertively, an author will often present things in a straightforward and direct way with little
to no room for argument.

Example: “As she spoke, her conviction was unshakeable and those listening felt moved to join the
committee and make changes in their community.”

10. Informative
An informative tone seeks to inform the reader about a particular topic or subject. Educational
materials often feature an informative tone.

Example: “The human brain contains millions of cells, all working to handle the various functions
performed by the human body.”

11. Entertaining

An entertaining tone seeks to help the reader enjoy the material. It might be humorous and make
the reader laugh, or it might simply be light-hearted and enjoyable.

Example: “Knock-knock, who's there? Nobel. Nobel who? No bell, that's why I knocked on the
door.”

12. Sarcastic

A sarcastic tone often expresses contempt or mocks another point of view. Using sarcasm in writing
is more challenging since its definition refers to it as a form of verbal irony. However, authors can
convey sarcasm in their writing when also explaining the expressions of the characters.

Example: “Rolling her eyes, Emma responded to the bully, ‘Okay, whatever you say goes,' and
then forcefully walked away.”

13. Cooperative

You will often see a cooperative tone in materials written for the workplace, expressing the need for
mutual participation as a team or group of people works toward a shared goal. A cooperative tone
often includes positive and collaborative elements, along with phrases that indicate the desire to
work together.

Example: “After I present my plan for the new project, I would love to hear your thoughts and will
open the meeting up to sharing by everyone on the team.”

Examples of Tone Words:

 He was very cautious about committing himself to anything.

 He was quite humorous, and I liked that about him.
 The prisoners who escaped are violent and dangerous.
 She got what she wanted by dint of pleading and threatening.
TONE CAN BE…
1. Cheerful
2. Dry
3. Assertive
4. Light-hearted
5. Regretful
6. Humorous
7. Pessimistic
8. Nostalgic
9. Melancholic
10. Facetious
11. Joyful
12. Sarcastic
 13. Arrogant
14. Persuasive
15. Uneasy
16. Regretful
17. Reverent
18. Inspirational

WORKSHEET
Use of Tone in Sentences

1. You are a terrible liar! (__________________tone)

2. If you don’t do what I say, I’ll beat you to the pulp. (________________ tone)
3. You have to pick your Lego from the floor and put them in the basket. So, when I come back,
I don’t want to see anything lying around. (____________tone)
4. I don’t really like the way you talk to me. I’ll thank you for your manners. (______________
tone)
5. I’m sorry you lost your ticket. Kindly get off the bus and get another one. (_____________
tone)

Thanks for not answering my call. I was at the hospital for your sister and she needed you. A great
brother you are! (___________tone)

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

"But I feel peaceful. Your success in the ring this morning was, to a small degree, my success. Your
future is assured. You will live, secure and safe, Wilbur. Nothing can harm you now. These autumn
days will shorten and grow cold. The leaves will shake loose from the trees and fall. Christmas will
come, and the snows of winter. You will live to enjoy the beauty of the frozen world, for you mean a
great deal to Zuckerman and he will not harm you, ever. Winter will pass, the days will lengthen, the
ice will melt in the pasture pond. The song sparrow will return and sing, the frogs will awake, the
warm wind will blow again. All these sights and sounds and smells will be yours to enjoy, Wilbur-this
lovely world, these precious days …"

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The School by Donald Barthelme

"And the trees all died. They were orange trees. I don't know why they died, they just died.
Something wrong with the soil possibly or maybe the stuff we got from the nursery wasn't the best.
We complained about it. So we've got thirty kids there, each kid had his or her own little tree to
plant and we've got these thirty dead trees. All these kids looking at these little brown sticks, it was
depressing."

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A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

"There was a steaming mist in all the hollows, and it had roamed in its forlornness up the hill, like an
evil spirit, seeking rest and finding none. A clammy and intensely cold mist, it made its slow way
through the air in ripples that visibly followed and overspread one another, as the waves of an
unwholesome sea might do. It was dense enough to shut out everything from the light of the coach-
lamps but these its own workings, and a few yards of road; and the reek of the labouring horses
steamed into it, as if they had made it all."

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