Poetry Theme, Tone, and Mood

The way the READER feels when reading a text is the

(a)  

• Mood
• Tone
• Topic
• Theme

Answer explanation

Think of mood as the atmosphere of the scene or the vibe of the situation.

The author's message or lesson learned in the text is the (a)  

• Theme
• Topic
• Mood
• Tone

Answer explanation

Remember! Theme is The message.

I come with no wrapping or pretty pink bows.

I am who I am, from my head to my toes.

I tend to get loud when speaking my mind.

Even a little crazy some of the time.

I'm not a size 5 and don't care to be.

You can be you and I can be me.

I try to stay strong when pain knocks me down.

And the times that I cry are when no one's around.

To error is human or so that's what they say.

Well, tell me who's perfect anyway.

The theme of this poem can best be described as--

• Love conquers all

• We all have flaws

• Hardwork pays off

• It's okay to be selfish once in a while

Answer explanation

The speaker admits to having several flaws or negative characteristics, and in the last line they say, "Who's perfect anyway?" to suggest that we all have these flaws.

The author's attitude or feelings towards the writing and the readers is the (a)   .

• tone
• mood
• topic
• theme

Answer explanation

Think of the writer's tone like a speaker's tone of voice. When you listen to someone speak, you analyze their tone and inflection to guess their attitude or emotions. In writing, we analyze the writer's word choice to guess their attitude, or tone.

Which of the following BEST expresses the theme of this poem?

• Playing games makes people feel closer together.

• We don't need to compete against each other in order to have fun.

• Sports can be made better by changing the rules.

• Friendship can be hard work.

Answer explanation

The author suggests several activities that everyone could enjoy rather than a competition in which only one side can win.

The attitude of the speaker in this poem can be described as-

• grateful

• humble

• regretful

• spiteful

Answer explanation

When we wish things were different, this is known as regret. The speaker in the poem clearly misses their friend and wishes they were still around. This shows they are regretful of losing their friend.

What is the difference between Tone and Mood?

• Tone is the lesson of the text while mood is how the writer feels about the topic or reader.

• They are too similar to notice a difference.

• Mood is how the poem makes you (the reader) feel, while tone is how the author feels about the topic or reader.

• Mood is how the author feels or want you to feel, while tone is how the poem makes you (the reader) feel.

A warm fire crackled in the fireplace, and the chairs gathered around it were large and soft. A deep, luxurious carpet greeted cold toes with a comforting embrace, while the huge pillows thrown about the floor suggested it would be okay to stretch out for a while to warm up.

What word best describes the mood of this passage?

• welcoming

• exhausting

• playful

• cold

The climbers approached the top of the mountain. Some of them were doubled over with exhaustion, seeming to claw at the air to pull themselves forward. They brushed away the falling snow. One by one they slipped and fell on the ice. Yet, one by one they pulled themselves up and continued onward.

What word best describes the mood of this passage?

• frustrated

• determined

• relieved

• discouraged

The tone of the speaker in this excerpt could best be described as--

• defeated

• optimistic

• unsure

• helpful

Answer explanation

The last 3 lines say the speaker's negative feelings about themselves "aren't permanent" and will change by "tomorrow." This shows they are optimistic, or positive, about their own future, even though they don't feel happy right now.