Authors Tone What is an authors tone What

Author’s Tone

What is an author’s tone?

What is an author’s tone? Tone indicates the writer’s attitude. Often an author's tone is described by adjectives, such as: cynical, depressed, sympathetic, cheerful, outraged, positive, angry, sarcastic, prayerful, ironic, solemn, vindictive, intense, excited.

Tone is not an action. It is an attitude.

Real-life Example 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: • Commanding or bossy • Secretive • Loving • Angry • Excited • Playful

Tone is not explained or expressed directly.

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

Tone is different than “Mood. ”

Tone is the author’s own attitude toward the subject. Mood is the emotion the author wanted the readers to feel while reading about the subject.

An author’s tone influences the story’s mood and atmosphere.

Author’s Tone leads to Story’s Atmosphere & Mood

Example: An author writes a horror story using a serious and sinister tone. That tone helps create a scary atmosphere and a nervous, frightened mood for the readers.

Another Example: An author writes a satire, making fun of a horror story using a playful or sarcastic tone. That playful tone helps create a humorous mood for the readers.

Literary Examples of Author’s Tones…

Serious / Solemn “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 p. 17

Serious / Solemn n f a o s d e r o i o sp m n i a e o n the raid t ofrom “The girl rememberedulittle r s t e d s d a a e l o i e r is er she had e h s h T t s ’. r at Okeadan in which been n y i o d h g e t n g i u r a a r a chad f t her parents o d This n e captured. She knew r a y, he h p t s. a o e p g m m t a y s a s had no swhat had been killed. She idea , a s p s s e i n h t d a g s n i d brothers and sisters. happened rto aher e n e whof Much what she had experienced had been so horrible that she had simply shut it out of her mind. . ” At Her Majesty’s Request p. 17

Sarcastic “Just look at the Titanic. The captain said, ‘Even God can’t sink this ship. ’ Then, on the first voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, boom, it hit an iceberg and sank. And as soon as a daredevil utters the words ‘piece of cake’ before attempting a stunt, he is doomed. ‘Piece of cake’ becomes his ‘famous last words. ’ …” My Brother’s Arm p. 111 -2

Sarcastic y l t h g i “Just look at the Titanic. The captain said, l s a s e r i p ‘Even God can’t sink thiseship. ’ Then, on the s. n y i d e n g o a t r t c f i first voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, boom, t o s e a t i c. r p d a s o s n o i s ’ r m soon as a esank. And it hit u an iceberg and as r o l e h a t h c i p n‘piece of cake’ a s y o s c i m h a t daredevil utters the words T a n i s r u e o d a stunt, he is doomed. r attempting a o e m r u before e h h t s t uof cake’ becomes his ‘famous last p s i ‘Piece h T words. ’ …” My Brother’s Arm p. 111 -2

Humorous “When he realized he was still in one piece, he knew that at the very least he must be completely flat, with his face peering out of his own bottom and his brains leaking out of his ears. . ” Toad Heaven p. 64

Humorous a s e r i sp n i e l u n f o y t a l p us o a r o o t in one piece, m s u d h a “When he realized he was still le r ’s s o e i h h h t t T u s. a p lhe e very least r is e e h h Thknew o p he that at the must be s s l e o a h t t m I ( t at. u r c o i e b d m apeering out of awith his face e e co r r completely flat, a e c th d n n i a d h t o i o w m y f i his own bottom t and his brains leaking out n e d i r e d a e r ears. r. s. ). ” of his te c a r a Toad Heaven p. 64 ch

Objective / Impersonal “By nightfall on Monday, the center of the storm had barely moved, and icy winds of hurricane force swept across an area from Virginia up to Nova Scotia, Canada. The wind was so powerful that in Liberty, New York, the local train station had its roof entirely ripped off …” Blizzard p. 56

Objective / Impersonal ous i r e s a s e r i s storm had nspcenter sofnethe w i “By nightfall on Monday, the e n o t l ha a c n u o s ( s n of hurricane erand icy fwinds barely moved, force o p i t m c e i i b n t r ’s o h o n g i h f t o m u across an Virginia up to Nova e al area from c c is a i e i p p y Thswept t is e, hwind r t e r h o f p Scotia, Canada. The was. so powerful that in s d c i o o m m o t e a m d a e c h a T r. othe local train station had its roof Liberty, s) New d. York, t s r u o o i p re u t s d e entirely ripped off …” r e d i s con Blizzard p. 56

Enthusiastic “. . . 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 p. 36

Enthusiastic ve, i t c a n a s e r “. . . the next minute, Winn-Dixie looked like a i p e s c n i n e e u l n f o n t i c o t building, furry bullet, ushooting across the sti s g a e i n i s p t o a h h p t i r o. He enthat mouse. tic and his h n t s ’ a u r , a o chasing was barking e th od h u o T a. m s i e d Th feet owere herskidding iteover c p x s e all the polished Pick-Itn m t a a n ei b lively. Quick o t rsfloor, and people were clapping and e d a e the rhollering. and pointing. They really went wild n o i t c ea morwhen Winn-Dixie actually caught the mouse. ” Because of Winn-Dixie p. 36

Hostile / Angry “Dana grinned malevolently. His teeth were nubby and yellow, like an old barn dog’s. Kneeling on Roy’s chest, he hauled back to hit him again. ” Hoot p. 184

Hostile / Angry t n e l o i v a s e ir p o s t n i g n e i p n o o t h y e r b g n y a a e s m ’ h r t r o o n h i h t t malevolently. u d u “Dana grinned His teeth were a. o a y s o r i e o h m t Th s T y. s e e a h r t e e n n h nubby and i barn dog’s. yellow, like ian old u p s s t d o c n l a f m n e at o s c n e e t Kneeling on Roy’s h chest, he hauled back t a g e n r i i z i s a insp h p him again. ” tomhit e , r reade Hoot p. 184

“We’d gone a quarter mile down the trail when we ran into a man walking the wrong way. He had a pack on his back – a full, towering, overstuffed pack – and he was sweating hard. His breath sounded like a bellows. I stepped aside to let him pass. I stared. I knew that he was one of the ones who hadn’t made it, who’d quit right there at the start. ” Halfway to the Sky p. 32 Disapproving

“We’d gone a quarter mile Disapproving down the trail when we ran into a man walking the wrong a p u s t e s e way. He had a pack on his n o t g n i a o t back – a full, towering, sapprov g n s i p d i l a d e e h l s r’– and he here, o o s l h overstuffed pack a t t u I a p. s r is o e s h t d m n T t a e r m was sweatingtithard. e His n the h v i s i l p e i p m d o m o c o c breath soundedtlike a ma e l h a t n e t e a i m c g e d bellows. I stepped aside to pr ju p a r e dstared. a e r let himtpass. I Ieknew. s r he t c a r a h c of the ones that he was one e h t f o who hadn’t made it, who’d quit right there at the start. ” Halfway to the Sky p. 32

PERSONAL Personal “I feel alive for the first time in years, ” said Faber. “I feel I’m doing what I should’ve done a lifetime ago. “I feel alive for the first time in For a little while I’m not afraid. Maybe it’s because said Faber. feel. . I’myears, ” doing the right thing at“I last. . . “ doing what I should’ve done a lifetime ago. 451 p. 131 Fahrenheit For a little while I’m not afraid. Maybe it’s because I’m doing the right thing at last. . . ” Fahrenheit 451 p. 131

PERSONAL Personal re Faber. “I e h p “I feel alive for the first time in years, ” said s o m t a n a done aulifetime r o o t h t feel I’m doing what I should’ve ago. s d a a e e l “I feel alive for the first time in e Th n. n o t o i l gbecause t For a little rwhile Maybehait’s a I’m noteafraid. n a i l n r e o v s s doing r “I feel e said Faber. p d years, ” I’m d n n s ’ a a r o I’m the sright n thing atntlast. . ity. . . “ nd care hdoing o l t i a u s i a e s a ago. pr ide a lifetime x f d Thi e n n what I should’ve done l o a t a c f rs Fahrenheit 451 p. 131 on o i e t d d o n o m u o not afraid. t mo while of e Forseat alittle m I’m e th o g t n i s p l e he because I’m doing the , hop Maybe s r e it’s ad e r s. r e e t h t c a n i ar h c right thing at last. . . ” e h t t abou Fahrenheit 451 p. 131

Grieving 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. Shark Girl, Kelly Bingham

Grieving Corny It sounds clichéd But at times like this, I miss my dad. I mean, . I don’t remember him – s m e o p r i he died of cancer when I was three. e h t t n s i e ” p s l e u Pictures e o d s r r i e e r e h e s l h are all that’s left. “bare th a p ve os e m r t n a e e t is fone My favorite on an o t of g s g t n d n i e i t o v o a o e P us sitting on ta’sbench, eating ice crecream. es a m gri , r e e h oare knobbyerthe ir at same way, p f p s Our knees s i n i h h T ut like hyenas, his o T b. we’re both grinning a g. n s s i r g g e n n i d l o a dl fee he’s pointing at sthe ancamera. the re s in e n g d n i a r fs ca o d n a I haven’t hadatahy dad in twelve years. p m time, Most ofsythe that’s okay. But today, right now, I’d like a hug. From him. Shark Girl, Kelly Bingham

Indifferent 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. Reaching for Sun, Tracie Vaughn Zimmer

Indifferent Flicker al, n o s r pe m i A maid cleans. n a s e t a n e a r c s A crew cuts the lawn. e e s u on a t c t s n i e r delivered. re. Th s e f w Even the groceries get f i o l l d e a n h It si p ’. t s r e o d m p Jordan’s for at once, the rea g he t n This dad isnchome, i r n i a r n i e k d ulifts his head a but he barely o y e l o p b i s m e ss y t h o t p p y m from his laptop toemeet me. nd wh y l l a n ta o i s t r o e d m His eyes e un o t r d. e de s a s e flickerhin surprise, e r pr e t e d e yb a but he slams m em o p his attention back to the screen and coughs to dismiss us. Reaching for Sun, Tracie Vaughn Zimmer

Examples of Tone • • Cautious Humorous Affectionate Hostile Critical Objective Personal Violent • • Solemn / Serious Sarcastic Disapproving Enthusiastic Desperate Pleading Indifferent

The next time you read a passage, try to identify the author’s tone. It will help you “get the message” of the text.

Works Cited Bingham, Kelly. Shark Girl. Boston: Candlewick, 2010. Print. Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 1967. Print. Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker. Halfway to the Sky. New York: Yearling Press, 2003. Print. Dicamillo, Kate. Because of Winn-Dixie. New York: Candlewick Press, 2000. Print. Gleitzman, Morris. Toad Heaven. New York: Yearling Press, 2006. Print. Hiaasen, Carl. Hoot. New York: Yearling Press, 2006. Print. Lehmann, L. R. Blizzard. Salt Lake City, Utah: Quikread Press, 1997. Print. Myers, Walter Dean. At Her Majesty's Request: An African Princess in Victorian England. New York: Scholastic Press, 1999. Print Zimmer, Tracie Vaughn. Reaching for Sun. New York: Bloomsbury Children's, Distributed to the trade by Holtzbrinck, 2007. Print. Created at www. bibme. org