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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
Key Examples in Every Man in His Humour
Act 1, Scene 4
Explanation and Analysis:
The tone of Every Man in His Humour is flippant and irreverent, as is the case in many of Jonson’s comedies. In the play, he playfully skewers various social classes and institutions, including family and lineage. In one scene, for example, Cob, a working-class water-bearer, tells Matthew, a middle-class “gull,” or fool, about his own family history:
COB
Aye, sir, I and my lineage ha' kept a poor house here, in our days.
MATTHEW
Thy lineage, Monsieur Cob, what lineage? What lineage?
COB
Why, sir, an ancient lineage, and a princely. Mine ance'try came from a king's belly, no worse man; and yet no man neither (by your worship's leave, I did lie in that) but Herring the King of fish, from his belly I proceed, one o' the monarchs o' the world, I assure you. The first red herring that was broiled in Adam and Eve's kitchen do I fetch my pedigree from, by the harrots' books. His cob was my great-great-mighty-great grandfather.
