A poet or author’s tone is one of the most defining characteristics that sets passages aside from one another. It is the feeling or attitude displayed towards the subject of the text, and is often used to convey their main idea.
SUMMARY: In understanding the tone, we understand the author’s intent.
Contents
How to interpret the overall tone
Step 1a: Word Choice
Every word choice the writer or poet makes is important.
E.g. ‘She always enjoyed staying at her mum’s place during the holidays but her yoga and spiritual hiatus was excessive for her age.’ The TONE here is condescending and judgemental.
E.g. ‘The night was dry and lifeless’. This TONE here is bored or melancholic.
Step 1b: Shifts in Tone
The tone of a poem or passage may change as it progresses.
E.g. The poem may start with a tranquil tone ‘the wrapping night air…meandering river’ but then become quite ominous later on with lines such as ‘terrors, fear, stealthy flight’. This shift creates change, and may suggest that something is amiss.
Step 1c: Summarise Tone
Use words to summarise the tone of the poem or passage: ironic, sardonic, angry, humorous, condescending.
How to describe Tone
Add this to your vocabulary list!
Table 1 Tone Definition
| Tone | Meaning |
| Absurd | illogical; ridiculous; silly; implausible; foolish |
| Accusatory | suggesting someone has done something wrong, complaining |
| Acerbic | sharp; forthright; biting; hurtful; abrasive; severe |
| Admiring | approving; think highly of; respectful; praising |
| Aggressive | hostile; determined; forceful; argumentative |
| Aggrieved | indignant; annoyed; offended; disgruntled |
| Ambivalent | having mixed feelings; uncertain; in a dilemma; undecided |
| Amused | entertained; diverted; pleased |
| Angry | incensed or enraged; threatening or menacing |
| Animated | full of life or excitement; lively; spirited; impassioned; vibrant |
| Apathetic | showing little interest; lacking concern; indifferent; unemotional |
| Apologetic | full of regret; repentant; remorseful; acknowledging failure |
| Appreciative | grateful; thankful; showing pleasure; enthusiastic |
| Ardent | enthusiastic; passionate |
| Arrogant | pompous; disdainful; overbearing; condescending; vain; scoffing |
| Assertive | self-confident; strong-willed; authoritative; insistent |
| Awestruck | amazed, filled with wonder/awe; reverential |
| Belligerent | hostile; aggressive; combatant |
| Benevolent | sympathetic; tolerant; generous; caring; well meaning |
| Bitter | angry; acrimonious; antagonistic; spiteful; nasty |
| Callous | cruel disregard; unfeeling; uncaring; indifferent; ruthless |
| Candid | truthful, straightforward; honest; unreserved |
| Caustic | making biting, corrosive comments; critical |
| Cautionary | gives warning; raises awareness; reminding |
| Celebratory | praising; pay tribute to; glorify; honour |
| Chatty | informal; lively; conversational; familiar |
| Colloquial | familiar; everyday language; informal; colloquial; casual |
| Comic | humorous; witty; entertaining; diverting |
| Compassionate | sympathetic; empathetic; warm-hearted; tolerant; kind |
| Complex | having many varying characteristics; complicated |
| Compliant | agree or obey rules; acquiescent; flexible; submissive |
| Concerned | worried; anxious; apprehensive |
| Conciliatory | intended to placate or pacify; appeasing |
| Condescending | stooping to the level of one’s inferiors; patronising |
| Confused | unable to think clearly; bewildered; vague |
| Contemptuous | showing contempt; scornful; insolent; mocking |
| Critical | finding fault; disapproving; scathing; criticising |
| Cruel | causing pain and suffering; unkind; spiteful; severe |
| Curious | wanting to find out more; inquisitive; questioning |
| Cynical | scornful of motives/virtues of others; mocking; sneering |
| Defensive | defending a position; shielding; guarding; watchful |
| Defiant | obstinate; argumentative; defiant; contentious |
| Demeaning | disrespectful; undignified |
| Depressing | sad, melancholic; discouraging; pessimistic |
| Derisive | snide; sarcastic; mocking; dismissive; scornful |
| Detached | aloof; objective; unfeeling; distant |
| Dignified | serious; respectful; formal; proper |
| Diplomatic | tactful; subtle; sensitive; thoughtful |
| Disapproving | displeased; critical; condemnatory |
| Disheartening | discouraging; demoralising; undermining; depressing |
| Disparaging | dismissive; critical; scornful |
| Direct | straightforward; honest |
| Disappointed | discouraged; unhappy because something has gone wrong |
| Dispassionate | impartial; indifferent; unsentimental; cold; unsympathetic |
| Distressing | heart-breaking; sad; troubling |
| Docile | compliant; submissive; deferential; accommodating |
| Earnest | showing deep sincerity or feeling; serious |
| Egotistical | self-absorbed; selfish; conceited; boastful |
| Empathetic | understanding; kind; sensitive |
| Encouraging | optimistic; supportive |
| Enthusiastic | excited; energetic |
| Evasive | ambiguous; cryptic; unclear |
| Excited | emotionally aroused; stirred |
| Facetious | inappropriate; flippant |
| Farcical | ludicrous; absurd; mocking; humorous and highly improbable |
| Flippant | superficial; glib; shallow; thoughtless; frivolous |
| Forceful | powerful; energetic; confident; assertive |
| Formal | respectful; stilted; factual; following accepted styles/rules |
| Frank | honest; direct; plain; matter-of-fact |
| Frustrated | annoyed; discouraged |
| Gentle | kind; considerate; mild; soft |
| Ghoulish | delighting in the revolting or the loathsome |
| Grim | serious; gloomy; depressing; lacking humour;macabre |
| Gullible | naïve; innocent; ignorant |
| Hard | unfeeling; hard-hearted; unyielding |
| Humble | deferential; modest |
| Humorous | amusing; entertaining; playful |
| Hypercritical | unreasonably critical; hair splitting; nitpicking |
| Impartial | unbiased; neutral; objective |
| Impassioned | filled with emotion; ardent |
| Imploring | pleading; begging |
| Impressionable | trusting; child-like |
| Inane | silly; foolish; stupid; nonsensical |
| Incensed | enraged |
| Incredulous | disbelieving; unconvinced; questioning; suspicious |
| Indignant | annoyed; angry; dissatisfied |
| Informative | instructive; factual; educational |
| Inspirational | encouraging; reassuring |
| Intense | earnest; passionate; concentrated; deeply felt |
| Intimate | familiar; informal; confidential; confessional |
| Ironic | the opposite of what is meant |
| Irreverent | lacking respect for things that are generally taken seriously |
| Jaded | bored; having had too much of the same thing; lack enthusiasm |
| Joyful | positive; optimistic; cheerful; elated |
| Judgmental | critical; finding fault; disparaging |
| Laudatory | praising; recommending |
| Light-Hearted | carefree; relaxed; chatty; humorous |
| Loving | affectionate; showing intense, deep concern |
| Macabre | gruesome; horrifying; frightening |
| Malicious | desiring to harm others or to see others suffer; ill-willed; spiteful |
| Mean-Spirited | inconsiderate; unsympathetic |
| Mocking | scornful; ridiculing; making fun of someone |
| Mourning | grieving; lamenting; woeful |
| Naïve | innocent; unsophisticated; immature |
| Narcissistic | self-admiring; selfish; boastful; self-pitying |
| Nasty | unpleasant; unkind; disagreeable; abusive |
| Negative | unhappy, pessimistic |
| Nostalgic | thinking about the past; wishing for something from the past |
| Objective | without prejudice; without discrimination; fair; based on fact |
| Obsequious | overly obedient and/or submissive; fawning; grovelling |
| Optimistic | hopeful; cheerful |
| Outraged | angered and resentful; furious; extremely angered |
| Outspoken | frank; candid; spoken without reserve |
| Pathetic | expressing pity, sympathy, tenderness |
| Patronising | condescending; scornful; pompous |
| Pensive | reflective; introspective; philosophical; contemplative |
| Persuasive | convincing; eloquent; influential; plausible |
| Pessimistic | seeing the negative side of things |
| Philosophical | theoretical; analytical; rational; logical |
| Playful | full of fun and good spirits; humorous; jesting |
| Pragmatic | realistic; sensible |
| Pretentious | affected; artificial; grandiose; rhetorical; flashy |
| Regretful | apologetic; remorseful |
| Resentful | aggrieved; offended; displeased; bitter |
| Resigned | accepting; unhappy |
| Restrained | controlled; quiet; unemotional |
| Reverent | showing deep respect and esteem |
| Righteous | morally right and just; guiltless; pious; god-fearing |
| Satirical | making fun to show a weakness; ridiculing; derisive |
| Sarcastic | scornful; mocking; ridiculing |
| Scathing | critical; stinging; unsparing; harsh |
| Scornful | expressing contempt or derision; scathing; dismissive |
| Sensationalistic | provocative; inaccurate; distasteful |
| Sentimental | thinking about feelings, especially when remembering the past |
| Sincere | honest; truthful; earnest |
| Sceptical | disbelieving; unconvinced; doubting |
| Solemn | not funny; in earnest; serious |
| Subjective | prejudiced; biased |
| Submissive | compliant; passive; accommodating; obedient |
| Sulking | bad-tempered; grumpy; resentful; sullen |
| Sympathetic | compassionate; understanding of how someone feels |
| Thoughtful | reflective; serious; absorbed |
| Tolerant | open-minded; charitable; patient; sympathetic; lenient |
| Tragic | disastrous; calamitous |
| Unassuming | modest; self-effacing; restrained |
| Uneasy | worried; uncomfortable; edgy; nervous |
| Urgent | insistent; saying something must be done soon |
| Vindictive | vengeful; spiteful; bitter; unforgiving |
| Virtuous | lawful; righteous; moral; upstanding |
| Whimsical | quaint; playful; mischievous; offbeat |
| Witty | clever; quick-witted; entertaining |
| Wonder | awe-struck; admiring; fascinating |
| World-Weary | bored; cynical; tired |
| Worried | anxious; stressed; fearful |
| Wretched | miserable; despairing; sorrowful; distressed |
Source: https://writerswrite.co.za/155-words-to-describe-an-authors-tone/
Table 2 Tone Synonyms
| Tone | Synonyms (Look at the subtle differences between each word!) |
| Calm, logical, reasoned | Reasoned, measured, raional, considered, moderate, respectful, earnest, reassuring, laid-back, frank, sensible, serious, reflective |
| Excited, angry, passionate | Aggressive, antagonistic, mocking, disrespectful, emotional, fervent, ardent, vehement, assertive, emotive, pleading, outraged |
| Complaining or otherwise negative | Embittered, resentful, appalled, pessimistic, despondent, anxious, disgusted, sarcastic, disparaging, bitter, biting, critical, frustrated, hostile, disillusioned, hostile, pessimistic |
| Positive or happy | Hopeful, enthusiastic, humorous, optimistic, confident, encouraging, supportive, admiring, approving, |
| Neutral | Impartial, balanced, objective, detached, dispassionate, guarded |
| Disrespectful | Disbelieving, ridiculing, sarcastic, incredulous, sceptical |
| Casual | Colloquial, relaxed, friendly, approachable |
| Kind | Compassionate, empathetic, understanding, affable, collegial, amicable. |
| Over the top | Dramatic, hyperbolic |
| Sad | Wistful, doleful, sorrowful, pessimistic, cheerless, woeful |
| Firm | Uncompromising, assertive, commanding, forceful |
| Warning | Cautionary, foreboding, advisory |
Examples of Tone in Literature
Here, analyse the ways in which the author or poet uses sentence structure and specific word choices to shape the overall tone and mood of the piece. The author has written a specific way to make you feel a certain way.
Example 1
The poem as a whole relays a thoughtful moment that is tinged with sorrow. The narrator appears lost in contemplation. Thus, the tone of the poem is ​thoughtful​ and ​melancholic​.
Example 2
What of it, if some old hunks of a sea-captain orders me to get a broom and sweep down the decks? What does that indignity amount to, weighed, I mean, in the scales of the New Testament? Do you think the archangel Gabriel thinks anything the less of me, because I promptly and respectfully obey that old hunks in that particular instance? Who ain’t a slave? Tell me that. Well, then, however the old sea-captains may order me about—however they may thump and punch me about, I have the satisfaction of knowing that it is all right; that everybody else is one way or other served in much the same way— either in a physical or metaphysical point of view, that is; and so the universal thump is passed round, and all hands should rub each other’s shoulder- blades, and be content.
Moby-Dick by Herman Melville
The tone here is harsh and blunt, befitting the setting on a whaling boat.
Practice Questions to Identify Tone
Q1. The moment the words were out of my mouth, I wished I could take them back. I didn’t mean to hurt Keith’s feelings. He is such a nice person, and he certainly doesn’t deserve to be treated so poorly. I guess the stress from my job has been more than I can handle. Instead of taking my problems out on him, I need to deal directly with the people who create the stress. If only I didn’t care so much what people thought of me at work, then this would not have happened.
Q2. Alonzo winked at his mother’s shocked gaze and with a smile he said, “sausage and pepperoni pizza for breakfast makes perfect sense. Allow me to demonstrate. You have your tomato. Tomato is technically a fruit. You have your cheese. Cheese is a dairy product. You have your crust… necessary carbs for quick energy in the morning. And don’t forget the sausage and the pepperoni… my protein. If you think about it, it is just like bacon and eggs, toast, and orange juice.” Still smiling, he added, “really, it is… well, almost.” “Why are you looking at me that way?”
Q3. I went to Zebra’s Diner yesterday. The seating arrangement inside the restaurant was really poor as customers had to face the walls. I sat at the cleanest table I could find. Fifteen minutes after I sat down, a teenage boy with long, dirty hair finally arrived to take my order. After another 35 minutes, my food arrived, but it was cold and not as delicious as I had hoped. Visiting Zebra’s Diner was certainly an experience to remember, but one that I never hope to repeat.