PISMP Sem.

3 LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE Tone and Mood

Week 15

English for Undergraduates

*Identifying the tone or mood is often an important clue to help the reader discover literary themes. *Considering how a writer creates a certain tone or mood helps the reader appreciate the author's style. Tone - style or manner of expression in speech or writing. Tone is thus a critical concept which implies that literature is like speech, requiring a speaker and a listener, tone being the attitude adopted by the speaker to the listener ---the author's attitude toward the work, events, characters, or the reader/audience -- , gathered and understood from the kind of syntax and vocabulary used. For the full understanding of a work it is essential to recognize its tone or range of tones, however difficult that may be, especially for non-native speakers of English.

Mood - atmosphere, state of mind mind, feeling, anger A term used synonymously with atmosphere to indicate in a literary work the prevailing feeling or frame of mind, especially at the start of a play, poem or novel, creating a sense of expectation about what is to follow. [Gray, M. (1996) The Dictionary of Literary Terms. Longman: New York] Task 1: Describe the tone and the mood of The Happy Prince or The Nightingale and the Rose.

Some adjectives to describe: Tone: formal, informal, serious, humorous, amused, angry, playful, neutral, satirical, playful, conciliatory, gloomy, sad, resigned, supercilious (showing contemptuous indifference), cheerful, ironic, clear, detailed, imploring, monotonous, suspicious, pompous, witty (full of humour), matterof-fact tone . Mood: fictional, imaginary, fanciful, idealistic, romantic, realistic, optimistic, pessimistic, gloomy, melancholic, mournful, sorrowful etc.

Symbol and Symbolism A symbol is something that represents something else, either by association or by resemblance. It can be a material object or a written sign used to represent something invisible. Language itself is a system of spoken or written symbols by which we communicate. Every word is a symbol; the five letters that form the word 'chair' represent a sound as well as a physical object. In writing, symbolism is the use of a word, a phrase, or a description, which represents a deeper meaning than the words themselves. This kind of extension of meaning can transform the written word into a very powerful instrument.

PISMP Sem. 3

Week 15

English for Undergraduates

In literature, symbolism is used to provide meaning to the writing beyond what is actually being described. The plot and action that take place in a story can be thought of as one level, while the symbolism of certain things in the writing act on another level to enhance the story. Symbolism can take place by having the theme of a story represented on a physical level. A simple example might be the occurrence of a storm at at critical point, when there is conflict or high emotions. The storm might symbolize these. Similarly a transition from day to night, or spring to winter, could symbolize a move from goodness to evil, or hope to despair. A river in a scene could represent the flow of life, from birth to death. Flowers can symbolize youth or beauty. Not everything in a story is necessarily symbolic. A garden landscape is just a garden ... until it is contrasted with a bustling city, at which point the garden could symbolize tranquillity, peace, or escape. Source: http://www.worsleyschool.net/socialarts/symbolism/page.html Task 2: Are there any examples of symbolism used in the short story you have studied? Describe.