Mood & Tone

Mood & Tone

By Hadiya Henry-Johnson

How do an author’s word choices help determine the tone and mood of a text?

By Hadiya Henry-Johnson

Essential Question

• I can explain the difference between mood and tone.

• I can identify them in a literary text using context clues and word choices.

By Hadiya Henry-Johnson

​I Can Statements

Poll

How much do you already know about mood and tone?

• I’ve never heard of them.

• I’ve heard of them, but I’m not sure what they mean.

• I know a little and can give some examples.

• I know them well and can explain and spot them easily.

I can explain the difference between mood and tone.

By Hadiya Henry-Johnson

​I Can Statement

​Mood is the feeling the reader gets from the story.

Tone is the author's attitude toward the subject.

Both mood and tone help us understand a story better!

What is Mood and Tone?

Mood
&
Tone

Multiple Choice

What is tone in a story?

• How long the story is.

• The reader's feelings.

• The author's attitude toward the subject.

• The plot of the story.

Multiple Choice

What is mood in a story?

• The author's attitude.

• The way the story is organized.

• The characters' actions.

• The feeling the reader gets.

Multiple Choice

Why are mood and tone important?

• They make the story longer.

• They help us understand the story better.

• They tell us who the characters are.

• They describe the setting.

I can identify them in a literary text using context clues and word choices.

By Hadiya Henry-Johnson

​I Can Statements

The tone is the author's attitude toward the subject they are writing about.
Authors show their tone through the words they choose and how they describe things.
You can figure out the tone by looking for signal words that reveal if the author feels excited, angry, sad, serious, or something else.

Tip:
Ask yourself:
➔ How does the author sound about this topic?
➔ What words show how they feel?

​

Author’s Tone

Let's Practice - I Do

I couldn’t believe it — today was the big day! The sun was shining, my backpack was packed, and I raced out the door with a huge smile on my face. Everything about this adventure filled me with joy and energy. It was going to be the best day ever!

Let's Practice - I Do
Signal words/phrases

I couldn’t believe it — today was the big day! The sun was shining, my backpack was packed, and I raced out the door with a huge smile on my face. Everything about this adventure filled me with joy and energy. It was going to be the best day ever!

Let's Practice - I Do
Signal words/phrases Meaning

• big day (excitement)

• shining (positive imagery)

• raced (energy, eagerness)

• huge smile (happiness)

• joy (emotion)

• energy (enthusiasm)

• best day ever (extreme positive feeling)

Let's Practice - We Do

The rain tapped softly against the window as I sat alone in the empty room. I stared at the old photographs, each one a painful reminder of what used to be. A heavy sadness filled the air, and I couldn't shake the feeling of being completely alone.

Let's Practice - We Do
Signal words/phrases

The rain tapped softly against the window as I sat alone in the empty room. I stared at the old photographs, each one a painful reminder of what used to be. A heavy sadness filled the air, and I couldn't shake the feeling of being completely alone.

Let's Practice - We Do
Signal words/phrases meaning

• tapped softly (gentle, quiet, sets a sad mood)

• alone (repeated — emphasizes loneliness)

• old photographs (nostalgia, memory, often linked to sadness)

• painful reminder (direct emotional pain)

• heavy sadness (strong emotion)

Let's Practice - You Do

I slammed my book shut and pushed it across the desk. How could they expect us to finish all of this in one night? It was completely unfair! My face burned with frustration as I thought about how little time we were given to do something so important.

Let's Practice - You Do
Signal words/phrases Meaning

I slammed my book shut and pushed it across the desk. How could they expect us to finish all of this in one night? It was completely unfair! My face burned with frustration as I thought about how little time we were given to do something so important.

Let's Practice - You Do
Signal words/phrases

• slammed (aggressive action)

• pushed (forceful action)

• unfair (strong negative emotion)

• burned with frustration (intense anger)

Multiple Choice

What is the author's tone?

"Ugh, this project is impossible! No matter how hard I try, nothing works. I’m so tired of this!"

• Excited

• Proud

• Fustrated

• Calm

Multiple Choice

Which words show the tone?

"Ugh, this project is impossible! No matter how hard I try, nothing works. I’m so tired of this!"

• impossible, tired, nothing works.

• project, try, hard

• nothing, this, works

• tired, project, try

Multiple Choice

Read this passage:
"I can't wait for Saturday! It’s going to be amazing — the games, the food, the fun! It’s going to be unforgettable!"

What is the author's tone?

• Nervous

• Excited

• Angry

• Sad

Multiple Choice

Read this passage:
"I can't wait for Saturday! It’s going to be amazing — the games, the food, the fun! It’s going to be unforgettable!"

Which words show the tone?

• Nervous, can't wait, amazing, unforgettable

• games, food, Saturday

• amazing, games, fun

• Saturday, wait, fun

Multiple Choice

Read this passage:
"We must take action now. This is not just important — it is critical to our future. Every second counts."

What is the author's tone?

• Silly

• Serious

• Playful

• Relax

Multiple Choice

Read this passage:
"We must take action now. This is not just important — it is critical to our future. Every second counts."

Which words show the tone?

• important, every, now

• must, action, counts

• action, important, future

• take action, critical, every second

Mood is the feeling a reader gets while reading a story, poem, or passage.
Authors create mood by using specific words and details that make you feel a certain way.

For example, words like happy, bright, and cheerful create a joyful mood.

Words like dark, gloomy, and lonely create a sad or scary mood.

By paying attention to these signal words, you can figure out how the story is supposed to make you feel!

Tip:
Ask yourself:
➔ How do I feel when I read this?
➔ What words or phrases made me feel that way?

​

Reader's Mood