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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
Tone
Explanation and Analysis:
Scout is the first-person, semi-omniscient narrator of her own story in To Kill A Mockingbird. She narrates the novel as an adult, looking back on her childhood and formative moments. It is her perspective and her hindsight that color readers' perception of events. As a narrator, Scout's tone is distinct: she frequently uses understatement, overstatement, and verbal irony in her descriptions of characters and events. These elements of her critical tone call to attention everyday ironies and contradictions that reveal something about human nature.
As a narrator, Scout will often deliberately restrict her perspective to allow the thoughts and opinions of her younger self to shine through. In presenting events through the lens of a child, Scout adds further layers to her more critical, adult tone. The childlike perspective contributes a tone of whimsy, curiosity, and exploration. As a young Scout learns more about the world around her, readers again take the same journey. This tone has didactic elements to it, but it is not dull; rather, the influence young Scout has on the novel is joyful, imbuing the narrative tone with a childlike delight. Adult Scout understands the lessons she narrates, but presents them to the reader as the world presents itself to a child.
Related Themes:
