Tone
David Copperfield
by Charles Dickens

David Copperfield: 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
Chapter 31: A Greater Loss
Explanation and Analysis:

The novel's tone is reminiscent, never letting the reader forget that the narrator is delving into his memory in order to write the novel (or autobiography). For example, in Chapter 31, the narrator describes how painful it is for him to recall how Emily ran away with Steerforth:

A dread falls on me here. A cloud is lowering on the distant town, towards which I retraced my solitary steps. I fear to approach it. I cannot bear to think of what did come, upon that memorable night; of what must come again, if I go on.