The Tell-Tale Heart By Edgar Allen Poe Mood and Tone

Student Learning Goals Understanding the mood of a story is noticing the way I feel as I read. Am I scared, excited, angry…..? Understanding tone is noticing how the author feels about his story. I ask myself, does the author feel positive, negative or neutral about the subject?

Edgar Allen Poe: A Brief Background Edgar Allen Poe had what some would call a very dark upbringing. His alcoholic father deserted the family and his mother died of tuberculosis when he was two. His wife, Virginia, also died of tuberculosis. His depression helped lead him to his death two years later. The exact cause of Poe’s death remains a mystery.

Mood The mood is the feeling you get from reading a story. Does a story make you feel angry, sad or frightened? To figure out mood, pay attention to how you feel while reading the story. Mood is often conveyed by the story’s setting.

Mood…continued Good authors capture the mood through word choice and techniques such as foreshadowing (hints about what will happen later in the story). Often, a story’s mood will change as the plot unfolds.

Tone The tone is how the author feels about the subject, the character or the reader. Tone is generally positive, negative or neutral.

Tone……. continued Positive tone words: humorous, friendly, respectful, admiring, sympathetic Negative tone words: bitter, annoyed, sarcastic, accusing, mournful, sad Neutral tone words: serious, thoughtful, questioning, matter-of-fact, unbiased

Reading Focus Setting ▫The setting is where and when the story takes place. The setting is relevant to the meaning of the text. Analyze the purpose of the setting and it will give you insight to the story.

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