What is an
author’s
tone?
What is an
author’s
tone?
Tone indicates the
writer’s mood, voice,
and 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
a
s
e
ir
p
s
n
i
a
e
n
o
t
o
t
s
s the raid
ad
u
n
i
e
o
l
i
r
g
“The girl remembered
little
from
s
e
i
n
i
s
h
r
T
a
’s
.
c
r
y
o
d
d
h
n
t
ebeen hy, a
u
g
a
a
at Okeadan
in
which
she
had
r
t
s
i
.
f
t
e
o
a
Th
g
p
e
a
r
m
s
y had is pas
heknew her
s
p
,
captured.osShe
parents
s
s
e
h
t
n
at m
d
g
a
n
i
s
d
f
a
o
been killed.
She
had
no
idea
what
had
e
r
d
o
n
o
e
h
m
w
r
e
happened to
her
d brothers and sisters.
a
e
r
he
Muchtof 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
a said,
s
e
r
“Just look at the Titanic. Theincaptain
i
p
s
.
y
d
e
e
n
ag on the
to ship.’ofThen,
r
t
‘Even God can’t sink
this
c
i
t
s
a
c
te
i
r
l
p
a
u
s
f
s
y
n
s
i
a
’
l
r
first voyage
the
Ocean,
boom,
p
e Atlantic
o across
r
f
h
e
t
o
h
u
d
p
a
s sank.mo
o as soon as a
oand
m
t
Thisan iceberg
it hit
And
a
g
n
s
i
t
u
n
o
r
u
ta words ‘piece of cake’
a
humo utters
o
daredevil
the
t
s
.
d
r
a
e
e
d
l
a
rea stunt, he is doomed.
e
before
Thisattempting
h
t
n
i
e
l
u
‘Piece
ridicof cake’ becomes his ‘famous last
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
p
s
n
i
l
u
e
f
n
y
a
o
l
t
“When he realized
he
was
still
in
one
piece,
p
s
a
u
o
o
r
t
o
s
m
d
u
a
h
e
l
e
s
’
h
s
r
i
t
o
h
s
h
T
p
t
l
.
u
e
e
a
r
h
e
o
h at the very
e be
s
l
p
h
Thishe knew
t
s
a
t
that
least
he
must
o
t
I
u
(
o
tm
.
r
b
a
e
a
c
d
i
e
a
r
e
a
r
c
com
e
d
completely
flat, with
his
face peering out
h
t
n
a
n
i
h
t
i
d
o
w
o
y
f
i
m of his iown
t bottom and his brains leaking
n
e
d
r
e
d
a
reout of this
)
.
s
ears.
. . .”
r
e
c
Toad Heaven p. 64
chara
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
s
u
o
i
r
e
s
a
s
e
r
i
s
p
w
s
e
n
i
n
e
s
a
n
o
h
t
c
l
u
a
s
n
(
o
n
s
r
o
i
e
e
t
b
p
c
i
t
f
m
h
i
n
g
othe center
“By nightfall
ofi the storm
had
’s on Monday,
n
r
m
f
.
o
o
c
e
h
i
t
l
c
u
a
m
e
i
c
a
e
i
p
d
p
s
i
s
a
y
i
t
h
c
force
, and icyfowinds
T barely hmoved,
th of hurricane
a
e
r
r
r
o
e
,
s up to Nova
d from dVirginia
p acrossm
u
o
s
o
o
o
i
m
swept
an
area
t
u
t
a
e
s
h
,
T
d
.
e
)
t wind was so powerful that in
s Canada.
s
t
r
e
r
o
Scotia,
The
e
p
t
re
in
d
e
r
eNew York, the local train station had its roof
d
i
s
Liberty,
n
co
entirely ripped off …”
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-ItQuick 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
,
e
v
i
t
c
a
n
a
s
e
r
e
i
c
p
n
s
e
n
i
“ . . . the next minute, Winn-Dixie
lookedinlike
u a
l
f
e
n
o
t
o
t
g
c
i
n
s
t
i
t
e
s
a
p
a
i
p
o
i
furry bullet, shooting
across
the building,
s
h
c
u
i
t
r
h
t
n
o
n
a
h
t
e
,
u
d
s
a
’
o
r
e
o
o
h
chasing
mouse.
He was
barking
and his
m
th that
T
u
.
d
a
e
e
r
t
i
s
i
e
c
h
x
p
Th feettm
e
s
n
o
aall over the polished Pick-Itwere skidding
n
i
a
e
y
l
b
o and people were clapping and
t
live Quick
s
r
floor,
e
ad
e
r
e
th hollering
.
n
o
i
and
pointing. They really went wild
t
c
a
e
r
mowhen 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
r
i
o
t
p
s
g
n
n
i
i
,
p
e
r
o
n
e
h
o
d
t
e
a
y
b
e
r
r
g
y
e
n
a
h
a
t
m
s
r
n
’
i
r
o
o
h
d
t
h
o
t
u
u
o
a
a
m His teeth
e malevolently.
h
y
.were
T
s
grinned
y
.
This “Dana
a
r
e
e
o
r
t
n
e
s
u
hnubby and
e
p
d
h
s
n
t
o
a
n
yellow,
like
an
old
barn dog’s.
i
e
s
s
atm
t
n
c
i
e
l
t
f
n
a
o
e
c
on
Roy’s chest, he hauled back
e
h
t
inspir sKneeling
g
n
i
z
i
to hit him again.”
a
h
p
em
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
a
p
into a man walking the wrong
u
s
t
e
s
e
n
way. He had a pack on his
o
t
g
n
a
i
v
o
t
o
r
s
g
back – a full, towering, app
p
n
l
i
e
d
h
a
is
e
d
o
l
s
,
l
s
’
e
a
r
t
o
overstuffed
pack
– and hepher
I
h
.
t
s
r
t
u
e
s
n
a
d
o
e
s
a
m
m
e
t
r
h
a
Thisweating
s
was
hard.
His
e
i
l
e
h
v
t
p
i
t
i
n
m
t
i
o
e
c
d
p
c
o
a
o
breath
like
a
e
comsounded
m
h
l
t
a
t
e
t
n
a
e
i
c
m
e
bellows.
I
stepped
aside
to
g
r
d
p
p
ju
a
r
e
dI stared. I rknew
a
let him pass.
.
e
s
r
e
e
t
h
c ones
t
a
r
a
that he was
one
of
the
h
c
e
h
t
f
who o
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 afeel
alive
time
in it’s because
For
little
whilefor
I’mthe
notfirst
afraid.
Maybe
said
Faber.
feel. .I’m
I’myears,”
doing the
right
thing at“I
last..
. “ doing
Fahrenheit
what I should’ve done a lifetime
ago.451 p. 131
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
e
r
e
h
p
s
o
m
t
“I feel alive for the first time in years,”
said
Faber.
“I
a
r
n
o
a
h
t ago.
to a lifetime
u
a
s
feel I’m doing what I should’ve
done
d
e
a
h
e timeioin
l
T
in
.
e
n
g
“I
feel
alive
for
the
first
n
n
o
i
t
r
t
a
l
For a little while
I’m
not afraid.
Maybe
it’s sbecause
a
l
a
h
e
n
v
o
e
d
r
rsright
n
d
e
a
n
p
y
e
a
said
Faber.
“I
feel
I’m
doing
t
r
I’myears,”
doing
the
thing
at
last..
.
.
.
“
i
s
l
’
n
a
r
a
c
i
o
o
i
t
s
d
n
th
s
n
e
u
e
a
d
a
r
i
f
p
d
s
n
i
x
n ago.451 p. 131
o
e
a
Fahrenheit
c
t
l
Th
what
I
should’ve
done
a
lifetime
f
s
a
r
o
n
e
o
d
d
i
t
n
o
o
u
o
m
o
m
t not afraid.
a
m
of e For
t
a
little
while
I’m
e
e
h
s
t
o
g
t
n
i
s
p
e
l
p
e
hit’s because
ho Maybe
,
s
I’m doing the
r
.
e
s
d
r
a
e
t
c
a
r
a
the reright
h
cthing 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,
s
i
h
T
.
s
I don’t remember him –
m
e
o
s
rp
i
he died of cancer when I was three.
g
e
n
i
h
l
t
e
n
e
i
f
”
t
Pictures
s
s
l
pe
ou
e
s
e
r
i
d
are all that’s left.
e
f
r
h
t
o
e
h
e
e
r
r
s
l
a
e
My favorite one
is
a
b
h
“
e
p
v
s
n
f
e
o
e
r
o
t
f
m
e
t
d
o
us sitting
on
a
bench,
eating
ice
cream.
n
a
o
s
o
t
o
n
t
e
a
m
o
g
g
n
P
a
i
Our knees are
knobby
theesame
n way, pires
i
v
t
e
i
a
r
g
r
, chyenas,his ins
we’re
like
t’s grinning
r
eboth
e
o
h
t
p
.
s
fathe camera.
T
r
.
r
he’s pointing
at
e
g
e
d
n
h
a
i
t
e
g
r
u
n
o
e
o
l
b
h
t
a
d
n in twelve
in
adad
g
s
n
I haven’t
had
a
years.
s
i
r
e
n time, nd ca
adthe
Mostsof
a
y
h
t
a
that’ssokay.
mp
y
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
n
a
s
e
t
a
.
e
e
r
r
c
e
h
e
A maid cleans.
p
n
s
o
o
t
t
m
t
n
a
e
n
i
r
A crew cuts the lawn.
g
e
d
f
n
f
i
i
o
r
d
o
a
n
c
i
m
n
s
Even theegroceries
get
delivered.
u
y
’
t
t
d
s
p
n
p
o
a
m
t
a
p
e
s
r
rh for once, nally
is
e
e
dad lis
home,
d
p
ThJordan’s
n
,
u
o
a
i
t
o
n
t
o
o
r
but
hers
barely lifts his head
m
e
e
d
e
a
p
n
e
a
r
e
imfrom his laptop
s
b
e
e
to
meet
me.
h
y
s
t
a
u
s
a
m
w
c
o
m
l
s
l
i
e
a
His
eyes
h
o
t
T
I
p
.
e
r
h
e
t
d
n
flickerre
inasurprise,
i
r
hehe slams speake
tbut
e
h
t
y
his
to the screen
whattentionsback
.
d
edismiss us.
s
and coughs
to
e
r
dep
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