Tell Tale Heart Mood and Tone

Tone & Mood

Mood-The overall feeling the reader gets when they read a piece of literature.

• ​Mood includes the choice of setting, objects, details, images, and words.

• The mood is determined by the setting or atmosphere created.

What feeling do you get when you see this image? 

Mood Words

• Gloomy

• haunting

• melancholy (sad, depressing)

• stressed

• cheerful

• joyful

• terrifying

• horrific
  
  

​As you listen to the reading of the first two paragraphs, think about how the words and story make you feel.

What words create the mood/feeling for you?

Poll

What word best describes the mood of "The Tell-Tale Heart"?

• Haunting and Suspensful

• Cheerful and exciting

• Lighthearted

Tone

​

• The speaker/author's attitude or feelings toward the subject.

• Tone is determined by word choice and style of writing.

Tone Words

• adoring 

• humorous

• playful

• angry

• confident

• appreciative 

• serious
  
  
  

Multiple Choice

Which of the following describes the Narrator's tone?

"True!-nervous-very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am! but why will you say that I am mad? The disease had sharpened by senses-not destroyed-not dulled them (Poe 97).

• cheerful

• delighted

• anxious

• romantic

Multiple Choice

What is the narrator's tone in the following passage?

"Never before that night had I felt the extent of my own powers-of my sagacity. I could scarcely contain my feelings of triumph. To think that there I was, opening the door little by little, and he not even to dream of my secret deeds or thoughts. I fairly chuckled at the idea; and perhaps he heard me; for he moved on the bed suddenly, as if startled" (Poe 98).

• amused

• melancholy

• angry

• enchanted

Multiple Choice

Corey looked out the window and sighed. This was the third weekend in a row that the weather forecaster had predicted rain, and it looked like he was correct in his prediction. It was raining cats and dogs outside his window.

Corey was okay with rainy days happening during the week, when he was just sitting in a classroom anyway. In his opinion, though, a rainy Saturday was a waste of a perfectly-good weekend day.

“There’s no way that we are going to have our soccer game this morning,” Corey told his mom.

Just then, his mom’s cell phone buzzed, indicating a message had been received. She glanced at her phone and frowned. “Yep, no soccer game again this week.”

Which of the following words best reflects the mood of this passage?

• energetic

• gloomy

• nervous

• relaxed

Multiple Choice

Paige felt someone shaking her shoulder.

“What?!” she barked, refusing to open her eyes or move.

“I know it’s Spring Break, but you can’t sleep the whole

morning away. It’s already 9 o’clock. Come out to the kitchen and eat your breakfast after you get dressed,” Mom instructed.

A few minutes later, when Paige entered the kitchen, she still looked like a walking zombie. She opened the cupboard door that held the cereal, and scanned the shelf. “What happened to the Lucky Charms?” she roared.

“Your brother just finished them up this morning,” Mom answered. Paige slammed the door shut. “I’m not eating then.”

Which of the following words best reflects the mood of this passage?

• cranky

• somber

• scared

• hopeful

Multiple Choice

Dear Dad,

Congratulations on completing your first marathon! I know you set this goal a long time ago, and you worked really hard to achieve it. You have shown me that if I work hard, I can achieve my goals, too!

-Kaleb

Which word best describes the tone of this note?

• happy

• somber

• compassionate

• proud

Multiple Choice

“Which team do we play in soccer this week?” asked Tim.

“The Ravens,” replied Nathan, sighing. “We played them earlier in the season and they outscored us by three goals.”

“That’s not fair!” moaned Tim. “If we already played them, why do we have to play them again?” Nathan shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“I think we should just forfeit the game now,” said Tim. “We have no chance of winning at all.”

Which of the following words best reflects the mood of this passage?

• optimistic

• pessimistic

• fearful

• restless

Open Ended

Explain in your own words the difference between tone and mood.