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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 Boys in the Boat has a hopeful, proud, and indefatigable mood. The story itself—a David-versus-Goliath tale of overcoming seemingly impossible odds—contributes to this mood. While Rantz’s story could have been confined to a jingoistic tale of Olympic victory, Brown’s detailed research and writing positions Joe Rantz as an endlessly relatable everyman and his crew’s victory as a symbolic defeat of Nazi Germany.
Brown’s optimistic tone further contributes to this mood, as every serious struggle detailed by Brown is just another moment for Rantz and his teammates to better themselves. Brown makes it abundantly clear, from the prologue to the epilogue, that The Boys in the Boat is a story of teamwork. The title itself is evidence of this through line, as is Brown’s discussion of rowing’s intricacies. For example, heralded boat-builder George Pocock's advice to Rantz as he fights for a seat in the first boat is to trust his teammates.
Rantz’s learned self-sufficiency counterintuitively underscores the importance of teamwork: he was only able to survive after his parents abandoned him because of help from others. Rantz's teacher taught him which mushrooms were edible, his friend and neighbor Charlie McDonald provided him work as a logger, and his brother Fred invited Rantz to move in so that he could attend the Roosevelt School (which enables Rantz to later attend the University of Washington). Joe Rantz only made it to the University of Washington because of the support of his community, and he was only able to become an outstanding rower because he trusted his teammates and his teammates trusted him. The message that great odds can be overcome through banding together and helping one another creates a feel-good story with a hopeful mood.
Related Themes:
