Tone in literature

Tone, in written composition, is an attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience. Tone is generally conveyed through the choice of words, or the viewpoint of a writer on a particular subject.... The tone can be formal, informal, serious, comic, sarcastic, sad, or cheerful, or it may be any other existing attitude.

In order to understand tone it is important to think of what the author wants to get across with their message and why? To help you aquire this knowledge, you must ask yourself the following questions.

1. How does the author sound?

2. What is the writer's tone?

3. What kind of diction does the writer use?

Below are a few examples of how tone is used, first let's begin with a film:

Now let's look at a few examples. However, it is important to note that as literature students yourselves, not only are you to find the tone in certain passages. BUT you are also to back up your opinion with an example AND of course explain your chosen example.

A list of words you could use when describing tone are listed below.