Review of Gatsby Chapter 2: Mood and Tone

The Great Gatsby Chapter 2

A Study of the Literary Devices of Mood and Tone

​What is Mood and Tone in a Text?

• ​Mood is all about how the setting makes the reader "feel".

  ​Tone is all about the writer/narrator's attitude towards the events and characters in the text.

• ​They can feel like they are the same literary device, but they can be very different.

​Mood is captured through Imagery = 5 senses.

• See

• ​Hear

• ​Smell

• ​Taste

• ​Touch

Mood = ​Imagery:

The Valley of Ashes

• "ashes—a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills..."​

• ​The eyes of Doctor T. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic—their retinas are one yard high.

• ​But his eyes, dimmed a little by many paintless days under sun and rain, brood on over the solemn dumping ground.

​Imagery:

Creates the Mood of the Setting

• ​ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills..."​

• ​"The eyes of Doctor T. Eckleburg are blue and gigantic—their retinas are one yard high...dimmed a little by many paintless days under sun and rain, brood on over the solemn dumping ground

​What is the Mood

of the

​Valley of Ashes?

​Study the brown bolded words.

Multiple Choice

The Mood of the Valley of Ashes is...

• uplifting

• inspiring

• dismal

• worrisome

​Tone is...

• ​...a literary device that reflects the writer’s attitude toward the subject matter or audience of a literary work.

• The writer creates a particular relationship with the reader that, in turn, influences the intention and meaning of the written words.

​What is Nick's TONE (attitude) toward

​Tom and Myrtle's Party?

"​I wanted to get out and walk eastward toward the park through the soft twilight but each time I tried to go I became entangled in some wild strident argument which pulled me back, as if with ropes, into my chair...I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life."

Multiple Choice

According to the text on the left, what is Nick's Tone toward Tom and Myrtle's Party?

• Enjoyment and Humor

• Spellbound and Disgust

• Confusion and Clarity

• Contentment and Curiosity

​Study the EVENTS in following scene:

​"...Some time toward midnight Tom Buchanan and Mrs. Wilson stood face to face discussing in impassioned voices whether Mrs. Wilson had any right to mention Daisy’s name.

​

‘Daisy! Daisy! Daisy!’ shouted Mrs. Wilson. ‘I’ll say it whenever I want to! Daisy! Dai——'

​

Making a short deft movement Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand.

​What is the Mood of this scene?

Multiple Choice

Tom breaks Myrtle's nose. Choose the word that BEST captures the mood of the scene.

• Abusive

• remorseful

• heartless

• uncaring

​What is the attitude (TONE)

the guests have concerning

Tom's brutality?

​Then there were bloody towels upon the bathroom floor,

and women’s voices scolding, and high over the confusion

a long broken wail of pain...Then Mr. McKee turned and continued on out the door. Taking my hat from the chandelier I followed.

Multiple Choice

Nick DISAPPROVES of Tom's abuse towards Myrtle. What action does he take as evidence of his disapproval?

• He had one more drink.

• He scolded Tom.

• He took his hat and left.

• He asked Myrtle if she was ok.

Multiple Choice

Choose the definition of TONE:

• The writer's ATTITUDE towards the subject matter

• The FEELING the setting creates for the reader using imagery.

Multiple Choice

Choose the definition of MOOD:

• The writer's ATTITUDE towards the subject matter.

• The FEELING the setting creates for the reader using imagery.

​Good Work Today, Sophomores!