A&P: Tone 1 key example

Definition of Tone

The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical, and so on. For instance... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical... read full definition
Tone
Explanation and Analysis:

The tone of “A&P” shifts back and forth between sarcastic and earnest. Sammy—the narrator of the story, and therefore the tone-setter—clearly resents having to work as a clerk at the A&P. His narration features several bitter remarks about the shoppers at the store—they are, in his mind, “sheep,” “houseslaves,” and “pigs in a chute.” He also resents his boss Lengel, a “pretty dreary” man who Sammy sarcastically describes as viewing himself as “head lifeguard” of the “big dune” of the A&P.