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Understanding tone, mood, and atmosphere is essential for the SET. In Stage 1, comprehension questions frequently ask you to identify the tone of a passage, the mood of a character, or the atmosphere a writer creates. In Stage 2, creating a convincing atmosphere in your extended writing will earn you higher marks. This lesson teaches you what these terms mean, how to identify them, and how to create them in your own writing.
Tone is the writer's attitude towards the subject or the reader. You can think of tone as the "voice" the writer uses — just as your tone of voice changes when you are happy, angry, sarcastic, or sad, a writer's tone can shift throughout a piece.
| Tone | What It Sounds Like | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Formal | Serious, professional, impersonal | "It is essential that all candidates arrive promptly." |
| Informal | Chatty, friendly, relaxed | "So, guess what happened next!" |
| Humorous | Funny, light-hearted, witty | "The cat regarded the cucumber with deep suspicion." |
| Sarcastic | Saying the opposite of what is meant | "Oh, brilliant. Another rainy day. Just what I needed." |
| Serious | Weighty, important, earnest | "The consequences of climate change are severe." |
| Sympathetic | Caring, understanding, compassionate | "The poor child had been walking for hours without food." |
| Angry | Forceful, bitter, outraged | "This injustice cannot be tolerated any longer!" |
| Melancholy | Sad, reflective, wistful | "She gazed at the empty chair where he used to sit." |
| Mysterious | Secretive, enigmatic, intriguing | "No one knew where the stranger had come from." |
| Persuasive | Convincing, urging, compelling | "We must act now before it is too late." |
Mood is how the reader (or a character) feels as a result of the writing. Tone is what the writer does; mood is the effect on the reader.
| Tone Used | Mood Created |
|---|---|
| Mysterious, dark word choices | Suspense, unease |
| Warm, affectionate descriptions | Comfort, happiness |
| Sharp, critical language | Tension, discomfort |
| Exciting, fast-paced action | Thrill, excitement |
Passage: "The corridor stretched ahead, endless and dim. A faint tapping echoed from somewhere deep inside the building. She pressed her back against the cold wall and held her breath."
Atmosphere is the overall feeling of a place or scene in a text. It is closely related to mood, but atmosphere specifically describes the feeling of the setting.
Writers use a combination of techniques to build atmosphere:
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