Definition
Tone is the attitude the narrative voice takes toward the subject. It can feel ironic, tender, bleak, comic, or detached, and it shapes how the reader interprets events.
Example
The same funeral scene can read as tragic, satirical, or quietly hopeful depending on tone.
Related terms
Common mistakes
- Confusing tone with mood. Tone comes from the narrator; mood is what the reader feels.
- Shifting tone randomly from scene to scene without purpose.