Starter quiz
- 'Expresses the writer's attitude toward or feelings about the subject matter and audience' is the definition of the ______ of a text.
- 'tone' ✓
- The use of question marks throughout a text might suggest __________ tone.
- a controlled
- an uncertain ✓
- a reflective ✓
- a confident
-
- 'Refers to the state of being mortal (destined to die)' is the definition of ______.
- 'mortality' ✓
- The word 'desperate' means which of the following?
- feeling or showing a hopeless sense ✓
- feeling or showing confidence
- feeling or showing a calm sense
- feeling or showing jealousy
-
- What tone might the following words suggest: 'borrowed', 'unstable', 'debts'?
- anger
- desperation ✓
- confidence
-
- A regular structure to a poem might suggest __________ tone.
- a controlled ✓
- an uncertain
- a monotonous ✓
- an excited
-
Exit quiz
- Ruth Fainlight's 'Borrowed Time' considers the subject of ...
- immortality.
- mortality. ✓
- eternality.
-
- 'Showing or involved in careful thinking' is the definition of being ______.
- 'reflective' ✓
- We might interpret the tone of Fainlight's 'Borrowed Time' as ...
- ironic.
- light.
- frantic. ✓
- despairing. ✓
-
- 'Distraught with fear, anxiety, or other emotion' is the definition of ______.
- 'frantic' ✓
- An irregular structure in a poem might suggest a tone of ...
- excitement. ✓
- monotony.
- control.
- uncertainty. ✓
-
- The use of multiple dashes in a poem could indicate a tone of ...
- instability. ✓
- stability.
- despair. ✓
- confidence.
-
Worksheet
Loading worksheet ...
Presentation
Loading presentation ...
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- The tone of a literary work expresses the writer's attitude toward or feelings about the subject matter.
- In order to determine the tone, we might ask questions about how the poem would sound if read aloud.
- We also might ask questions about the use of punctuation, structure and language in order to determine the tone.
- We might interpret Fainlight’s ‘Borrowed Time’ as having a reflective or desperate tone.
Common misconception
That the tone and mood of the poem are the same thing.
Tone refers to the attitude of the writer towards the subject matter while mood refers to the effect the writing has on the reader.
Keywords
Mortality - refers to the state of being mortal (destined to die)
Reflective - showing or involved in careful thinking
Tone - expresses the writer's attitude toward or feelings about the subject matter and audience
Desperate - feeling or showing a hopeless sense
Frantic - distraught with fear, anxiety or other emotion
+