Welcome to Style Analysis 101

2. Welcome to Style Analysis 101 Introducing Tone

3. Don’t worry, it’s not And it’s definitely not It’s literary tone!

4. What is tone? • Tone is the AUTHOR’S attitude towards the audience, the subject or the character. • Tone is conveyed through the author’s word choice and details.

5. Tone • Style or manner of expression in speech or writing. • Indicates the writer’s attitude.

6. Kami Choi Will you go to Homecoming with……………..

7. SAM KIM!!!!

8. Practice • 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: • Bossy • Secretive • Loving • Angry • Excited • Playful

9. Tone is not explained or expressed directly. • An author does not say, “My tone is morose in this piece.” Or, “I’m writing in an exuberant tone.” • It must be deciphered. • But don’t worry, the author leaves plenty of clues.

10. What clues should I look for? • Diction • The author creates tone by his or her selection of words. • Detail • The author creates tone by his or her descriptions of words, phrases, concepts, and ideas. • Syntax • The author creates tone by arranging words in a specific way. • Imagery • The author creates tone by bringing the reader into the action of the piece through appealing to the 5 senses.

11. Questions you can ask when looking for tone in a piece: • What is the author’s/speaker’s attitude (tone)? • How does he or she feel about something? • What is their overall opinion about the subject of a piece?

12. A useful technique for determining an author’s tone is to envision the sound of the author’s voice as if he/she were reading the passage aloud. Dramatic reading of a Craigslist personal ad.

13. A reader must “read between the lines” to feel the author’s attitude and identify the tone.

14. How do I talk about tone? • ADJECTIVES must be used to describe tone. • There are HUNDREDS of words that can accurately describe tone. • The key to choosing the correct one is to carefully consider the author’s word choice. DICTION

15. Abhorrent abrupt accusing  accusatory admonitory bantering bitter  boring brash bucolic calm cautious childish coarse cold colloquial  desperate disdainful disgusted ecstatic effusive elated elegiac  eloquent  embittered erudite exuberant foreboding gloomy harsh  haughty  hopeful humble indignant inflammatory irreverent irritated  ironic joking joyful light loving miserable melancholic nervous  nostalgic optimistic outraged  paranoid passionate patronizing  pedantic  peaceful pessimistic pitiful pleasant playful proud  pompous pretentious questioning reflective reminiscent resigned   romantic  sad sanctimonious sarcastic  sardonic scornful  sentimental serene serious sharp shocked silly solemn somber  soothing snobbish  snooty sympathetic taunting  turgid vexed vibrant whimsical angry anxious appreciative apologetic arrogant  audacious condemning  dark condescending contemptuous dreamy mocking  moralistic mournful persuasive piquant cynical  compassionate confident Last Diction and Tone Slide! • Remember……………………… What kind of words are there? And how do they make the reader feel?

16. What is the purpose of tone? • Sets the relationship between reader and writer • Creates growing emotion in the reader • Connects the material to the reader. • It is the hallmark of the writer’s personality

18. “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 Majesty’s Request Serious/Solemn This author’s serious tone inspires an atmosphere of tragedy. This leads to a mood of sadness, sympathy, and caring in the reader when reading this passage. Diction

19. “ . . . 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 Enthusiastic DeCamillo’s enthusiastic tone inspires an active, lively atmosphere. The author hopes to influence the readers to be in an excited mood, anticipating more action. Diction, imagery

20. “Dana grinned malevolently. His teeth were nubby and yellow, like an old barn dog’s. Kneeling on Roy’s chest, hehauled back tohit himagain.” Hoot Hostile/Angry This author’s 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. Diction, detail, imagery

21. “I feel alive for the first time in years,” said Faber. “I feel I’m doing whatIshould’ve done a lifetime ago. For a little while I’m not afraid. Maybe it’s becauseI’m doingthe right thing at last. . . .” Fahrenheit 451 Personal This author’s 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. Diction

22. Corny It sounds clichéd But at times like this, I miss my dad. I mean, I don’t remember him – he died of cancer when I was three. Pictures are all that’s left. My favorite one is us sitting on a bench, eating ice cream. Our knees are knobby the same way, we’re both grinning like hyenas, he’s pointing at the camera. I haven’t had a dad in twelve years. Most of the time, that’s okay. But today, right now, I’d like a hug. From him. Kelly Bingham Grieving This poet’s 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. Imagery, syntax

23. Flicker A maid cleans. A crew cuts the lawn. Even the groceries get delivered. Jordan’s 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. Tracie Vaughn Zimmer Indifferent This poet’s 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. Syntax, diction, imagery

24. Looking for tone will help you “get the message” of the text. • So don’t be • The next time you read a passage, try to identify the author’s tone.

25. Brought to you by. . .