UNDERSTANDING TONE
Tone is defined as the writer or speaker's attitude toward the subject and the audience. Very young children can sense a speaker's attitude in tone of voice. For that matter even a dog understands the tone of his master's voice. "You lazy old cur, how, are you today? Did anyone ever tell you that you are absolutely useless? Wish I could be as worthless as you are." The dog wags his tail, enjoying the attention and kindness of his master's voice despite the literal meaning of the words.
But understanding tone in prose and poetry is an entirely different matter. The reader does not have voice inflection to obscure or to carry meaning. Thus, a student's appreciation (knowledge) of word choice, details, imagery, and language all contribute to the understanding of tone. To misinterpret tone is to misinterpret meaning. If a student misses irony or sarcasm, he may find something serious in veiled humor.
INTRODUCING TONE
A brief scene with a simple dialogue played between two students using differing tones to fit different characters and contexts emphasizes how tone changes meaning
Student A: You're late!
Student B: I know. I couldn't help it.
Student A: I understand.
Student B: I knew you would.
Student A: I have something for you.
Student B: Really? What?
Student A: This!
v How might this scene be played by two lovers who are meeting at a restaurant where one is about to propose marriage?
v How would two spies speak the same dialogue or a parent waiting up for a child who has come home late? In each scenario the tone controls audience understanding and interpretation.
DEVELOPING A TONE VOCABULARY ACTIVITY
A list of tone words is one practical solution for providing a basic "tone vocabulary." An enriched vocabulary enables students to use more specific and subtle descriptions of an attitude they discover in a text. Using the list below create tone flash cards for each of the 54 tone words. Place the tone word on the front of the note card then on the back give the definition and a synonym. This will be a double daily grade and is due ______. Refer to your cards often throughout the course especially when determining the tone used in the literary works covered. During the sixth six weeks, you will turn in your cards once again; however, under the definition and synonym you will have to also add a specific example of each tone. Use quotations or phrases from the various works covered in class. All examples must have their sources cited with the correct MLA format.
angry sad sentimental sharp cold
fanciful upset urgent complimentary silly
joking condescending boring poignant sympathetic
afraid detached contemptuous happy confused
apologetic hollow childish humorous joyful
peaceful horrific allusive mocking sarcastic
sweet objective nostalgic vexed vibrant
zealous tired frivolous irreverent bitter
audacious benevolent dreamy shocking seductive
restrained somber candid proud giddy
pitiful dramatic provocative didactic
TONE EXAMPLE
Perhaps because bats are nocturnal in habit, a
wealth of thoroughly unreliable legend has
grown up about them; and men have made of
the harmless, even beneficial, little beasts a
means of expressing their unreasoned fears.
Bats were standard paraphernalia for witches;
the female half of humanity stood in terror that
bats would become entangled in their hair.
Phrases crept into the language expressing
man's repulsion or ignorance –“bats in the
belfry,” “batty,” “blind as a bat.'"
Franklin Folsom, “Life in Cave”