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Metaphors
Definition of Mood
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes... read full definition
Mood
Explanation and Analysis:
The mysterious mood of the story follows from the atmosphere created (perhaps deliberately and strategically) by Dr. Heidegger, who is characterized as something of a mix between a mad scientist and show-magician. Before Dr. Heidegger has revealed the water from the Fountain of Youth, the reader’s curiosity is drawn to the mysterious nature of his “experiment.” The various details readers learn about the eccentric Dr. Heidegger, presented by the narrator in a smoky haze of truth and fiction, suggests that anything might be expected to occur in his strange study, which is filled with ancient alchemical books and supernatural objects.
The doctor’s elderly acquaintances seem to believe that they are there to witness a sort of magic trick; "That is certainly a very pretty deception," they say when he first reveals the “restored” rose to them. The reader is, like the characters of the tale, drawn into the mystery of the fantastic youth-restoring elixir and its otherworldly atmosphere. This sense of mystery is further underscored by the unclear realism of the events being narrated, as the reader has to wonder whether or not the fantastic scene is "true," an invention of the narrator, an old tall-tale, or a collective delusion on behalf of the characters.
Related Themes:
