Name______________________ Date_____________ Period____ Tone in Poetry Tone can be defined as the attitude a writer takes toward his or her subject, characters or audience. Tone is also sometimes defined as the emotion or feeling of a piece of writing. For example, the e.e.cummings poem a leaf has a tone that is lonely, sad or depressed as evidenced by the word “loneliness” in the poem. Other words that could be used to describe tone are angry, sarcastic, funny, sad, hateful, joyful, etc. a leaf ee cummings 1(a le af fa ll s) one l iness Robert Frost said “tone is what comes through a closed door when people are speaking out of earshot.” We cannot understand the exact words, but the tones of voice tell us what is going on. You can tell if the voice is pleading, demanding or doubtful, angry, happy, etc. Tone Chart Directions: Read the three poems in this packet. In the Poem Title/Author box write the name of the poem and the poet’s name. In the Tone box write a word or phrase that you think describes the tone of the poem. In the Evidence box, copy the words or a phrase from the poem that you think shows or proves what the tone is. In the box labeled Explanation, describe how the evidence you found proves what you think the tone is. An example using the e.e. cummings poem a leaf is done for you. Poem Title/Author A leaf by e.e. cummings Tone Lonely, sad Evidence The word “Loneliness.” The form of the poem looks like a single falling leaf. Explanation Cummings uses the word loneliness in his poem in conjunction with the form of single letters falling down the page to show us a feeling of loneliness and sadness. Hazel Tells Laverne Katharyn Machan Aal (b. 1952) last night I’m cleanin out my howard johnsons ladies room when all of a sudden up pops this frog musta come from the sewer swimmin aroun an tryin ta climb up the sida the bowl so i goes ta flushm down but sohelpmegod he starts talkin bout a golden ball an how i can be a princess me a princess well my mouth drops all the way to the floor an he says kiss me just kiss me once on the nose well i screams ya little green pervert an i hitsm with my mop an has ta flush the toilet down three times me a princess First fig Edna St. Vincent Millay My candle burns at both ends; It will not last the night; But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends-It gives a lovely light! A Barred Owl Richard Wilbur The warping night air having brought the boom Of an owl's voice into her darkened room, We tell the wakened child that all she heard Was an odd question from a forest bird, Asking of us, if rightly listened to, "Who cooks for you?" and then "Who cooks for you?" Words, which can make our terrors bravely clear, Can also thus domesticate a fear, And send a small child back to sleep at night Not listening for the sound of stealthy flight Or dreaming of some small thing in a claw Borne up to some dark branch and eaten raw.