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Style
Definition of Tone
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical, and so on. For instance... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical... read full definition
2. Kidnapped
Explanation and Analysis:
Aphra Behn serves as both author and narrator for Oroonoko: as such, the novella takes on an autobiographical quality, with the narrator speaking frequently in the first person. Despite Behn presenting Oroonoko as a "true history," the narrative tone does not veer into the overly emotive or subjective, as one might expect from a person relaying her own lived experiences. Instead, the tone remains more (seemingly) objective and removed, as Behn also wishes to maintain her credibility with her audience and avoid being stereotyped as an "overly sentimental" woman. This means that the tone of the novella remains simultaneously personal and impersonal, as in the passage below, where Behn comments on the actions of the Captain upon Oroonoko's capture:
Some have commended this act, as brave in the captain; but I will spare my sense of it, and leave it to my reader to judge as he pleases.
Behn presents a possible moral judgement on the Captain's actions—stating that some may consider it "brave"—yet tactfully evades clarification of her own moral position. Such a removed tone might have been necessary given Behn's English audience, which would have been very comfortable in their racism and may not have responded well to an open condemnation of slavery or the British empire. By positioning herself as bard or poet, relating a tale with a tone of emotional remove, Behn may have been able to convey her point without inviting scrutiny.
