“The Interlopers”

1. “The Interlopers” Tone & Voice Practice

2. Tone and Voice • Tone • Attitude a speaker or author uses toward a subject, character, or audience. • Tone can be described in a single word – typically an adjective. • Examples: joyous, somber, humorous, serious, angry, mellow, ironic, etc…. • If you change a story’s point of view, you may change the tone as well. • For example: how might the tone of “Helen on 86th Street” be different if the mom were telling the story instead of Vita? • Voice • The writer’s use of language and overall style • Voice is created by the writer’s tone and choice of words (diction). • You can often identify the author of a piece of writing from the voice • The narrators voice can affect our view of characters and plot, and shape the tone of the story as a whole. • Writers will often switch voices on purpose, or their voice may change over time, but usually a writer’s voice remains the same from work to work • In fiction, narrators can also be said to have a voice, which is created by their manner of speaking, word choice, and tone.

3. Divide a sheet of paper in half. Label one side “Tone” and one side “Voice” • For the side labeled “Tone” • Identify the tone of the story (be sure to look at your notes regarding the definition of tone). • Support your chosen tone with evidence from the story. Be sure you are giving specific examples that reveal the connection, rather than giving me plot summary. • Does the tone change at any point? If so, what does the tone change to, and at what point in the story does that change take place? • For the side labeled “Voice” • Describe the voice of the story overall (be sure to look at your lecture notes regarding the definition of voice). • How does this voice affect readers insight and perception of the characters and plot of the story? • On back, answer questions 3-7 from pages 157 about the story.