Imagery, Mood, and Tone in Literature

Types of Imagery

• Visual imagery includes color, size, shape, and pattern
• Auditory imagery encompasses music, noise, and silence
• Olfactory imagery involves fragrances, scent, and odor
• Gustatory imagery relates to sweetness, sourness, spiciness, saltiness, and savoriness
• Tactile imagery includes touch, movement, temperature, and texture

What is Mood?

• Mood is how the reader feels after reading the text
• Authors use details in the story and words to build mood

Examples in Text

• Example text: "After New Year's the time came to put all the decorations away and settle in for the long, cold winter. The house seemed to sigh as we boxed up its finery. The tree was dry and brittle, and now waited lonely by the side of the road to be picked up."
• Mood identified: Dreary, depressed
• Words that contribute to the mood: long, cold, sigh, dry

What is Tone?

• Tone conveys the author's feelings about the subject
• Tone can be positive, negative, or neutral
• Identify tone by analyzing positive, negative, or neutral language

Examples in Text

• Example text: "The homeless face terrible problems. Many become victims of violence. Serious health problems may begin because they are exposed to bad weather and unclean conditions. Homeless children may miss the chance to go to school."
• Tone identified: Negative
• Word that describes the author's attitude: upset

More Examples in Text

• Example text: "Donovan and Larry were early for baseball practice. They decided to run up and down the bleachers to exercise before the rest of the team arrived. Larry was first to the top. He whispered to Donovan, 'Look over there. He pointed to a man sleeping..."
• Tone identified: Positive
• Word that describes the author's attitude: sympathetic

Review

• Mood shows how the author wants the reader to feel
• Tone shows the author's feelings about the subject
• Tone can create mood
• Look for words and details to understand mood and tone

Final Example

• Example text: "The girls were playing in the pond, splashing each other and trying to catch fish with their hands. They were having fun, but kept looking over their shoulders at the looming forest. The long grass of the field kept moving and they sort of felt like they were being watched..."
• Tone identified: threatening
• Mood identified: fear and suspense
• Words and phrases contributing to tone and mood: caution, dark, looming, looking over shoulders, being watched

Tone and Mood Together

• Example: "During the holidays, my mother's house glittered with decorations and hummed with preparations."
• Mood identified: Content, happy
• Words that create the mood: glittered, hummed, bright

References

• Imagery Literary Device: Definition, Types, and Examples
• Understanding Author's Tone And Mood.