Girl: Mood 1 key example

Definition of Mood

The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes... read full definition

Key Examples in Girl

Mood
Explanation and Analysis:

The second-person narration of "Girl" situates the reader squarely in the girl’s shoes, as the recipient of a barrage of overbearing advice on coming of age. The resulting mood is dizzying. The reader feels harried, as if they are bustling in Mother's wake. The first of the two brief interjections from the girl in italics, "But I don't sing benna on Sundays at all," comes two lines after Mother's initial injunction against singing benna in Sunday school, contributing to the feeling of breathlessness: the girl and thus the reader are stumbling a few paces behind, unable to catch up and fully voice any kind of argument.